Netherlands v Austria LIVE: Result and analysis as Dutch finish third and could face England after defeat
Netherlands 2-3 Austria: Ralf Rangnick’s side grab first spot in Group D after an exhilarating encounter in Berlin
Euro 2024 Group D reached its conclusion on Tuesday evening as Austria powered past the Netherlands in an enthralling encounter in Berlin.
Ralf Rangnick’s side grabbed an early lead after Donyell Malen turned a cross into his own net, and they dominated much of the first 45 as the Netherlands wasted a couple of chances to equalise.
The second half began in the opposite manner, with Cody Gakpo curling an equaliser past Pentz within five minutes of the restart. The Dutch began to impose themselves on the match, but they were behind again before they knew it as Romano Schmid guided a header past Verbruggen.
With both teams pressing to gain an advantage, the Netherlands were briefly back into it after Depay poked an effort past Pentz, but their parity was once more short-lived. Baumgartner threaded in a pass to Sabitzer, who broke through and rifled an effort into the roof of the Dutch net.
The Netherlands pushed for an equaliser as full-time loomed but Austria held firm to take three points in the German capital, and with them first place in Group D.
Follow all the reaction from Netherlands v Austria below.
Who could England play next and when? Euro 2024 draw and last-16 schedule
A ‘small’ aside for the games in Group D is that they will have some bearing on who England eventually face in the last 16 if the Three Lions top their group.
If England win Group C, they will play one of the four best third-placed teams in the last-16. The formula to decide who gets who is very complicated, and depends on the combination of third-placed teams to go through. The current standings for the best-placed third teams are below.
Who could England play next and when? Euro 2024 draw and last-16 schedule
England are through to the last-16 of Euro 2024 and have the chance to top Group C when they face Slovenia on Tuesday
This is why Ralf Rangnick turned down Bayern Munich – Austria can cause a real Euro 2024 upset
And here’s the report from Austria’s last match...
So this is why Ralf Rangnick rejected Bayern Munich. Euro 2024’s oldest manager could have taken charge of the biggest German club but rejected them to stay with Austria. Instead, he may be coaching for a little longer in his homeland this summer. A stirring victory gave Austria a fighting chance of reaching the last 16.
Poland, meanwhile, look almost certain to be the casualties of the group of death, without a point, with only a meeting with France to come. For Robert Lewandowski, his entrance to the tournament delayed by injury, his exit could come early.
But for Christoph Baumgartner, there was a seismic strike to accompany his statistical marvel. In March he scored what appears to be the fastest goal in the history of international football. After that six-second effort against Slovakia, a goal in the 66th minute felt slovenly, but it was also well-taken and decisive, putting Austria ahead.
This is why Rangnick turned down Bayern – Austria can cause real Euros upset
Poland 1-3 Austria: Marko Arnautovic wrapped up the win with a penalty, which leaves the Poles facing a huge task to avoid elimination
Netherlands vs France player ratings as stars underwhelm and Xavi Simons strike is controversially disallowed
Here are the player ratings from what was an underwhelming performance from both sides.
Favourites France drew with the Netherlands in Leipzig in the first goalless draw of Euro 2024.
Both sides were seeking the three points that would have ensured qualification to the last 16, but they were guilty of lacking imagination and cutting-edge in a pedestrian first half, with Adrien Rabiot wasting the best chance of the first 45 after choosing to pass to Antoine Griezmann when the shot was an easier option.
Netherlands vs France player ratings as Euro 2024 stars underwhelm
Netherlands 0-0 France: The top sides in Group D play out the competition’s first 0-0 in a cagey encounter in Leipzig, with a Xavi Simons winner controversially ruled out for offside
There’s no masking the truth: Euro 2024’s first goalless draw sums up France’s biggest problem
Here’s the report from the Netherlands’ last game, when they were controversially denied a Xavi Simons winner.
There’s no masking the truth from this first 0-0 of Euro 2024. France, the true favourites, currently lack end product. It does raise doubt over whether they can end this tournament as European champions, although it only adds narrative weight to Kylian Mbappe’s eventual return from his broken nose. He forced France’s only goal of Euro 2024 so far, and that was from an Austria defender. A promising Netherlands team did have the ball in the back of the net, although that was ruled out in the game’s most debated moment.
That wasn’t to say this was a bad match. It was often enthralling, although lacked more than the finish and the tournament’s outstanding player. That real impetus wasn’t there. Some of that may have been circumstantial.
As good as the game was, and as sensational as the tournament has been as a whole, this is maybe where the flaws of the 24-team competition are revealed. It takes something from these matches between the heavyweights. They both know they have a safety net with four third-placed sides going through. That wouldn’t quite be the case if it was only two going through. There’d have been a greater tension, and maybe more output.
Euro 2024’s first goalless draw sums up France’s biggest problem
Netherlands 0-0 France: Both teams ensured they progressed to the last-16 but Les Bleus escaped with a draw after Xavi Simons saw a strike disallowed for offside
Euro 2024: Netherlands v Austria
Team news
Austria have made four changes to the side that beat Poland 3-1 last week.
In defence, Alexander Prass replaces Phillipp Mwene at left-back, while Maximilian Wober comes into central defence in place of Gernot Trauner.
The other two changes come in attack, with Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner coming out for Romano Schmid and Patrick Wimmer.
Team news
Both sides have made several changes, with some more interesting than others.
Ronald Koeman has made one change in defence, with Denzel Dumfries replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida at right-back.
In midfield, Joey Veerman has come back in in place of Xavi Simons, with Tijjani Reijnders moving into a more attacking role.
Jeremie Frimpong is replaced by Donyell Malen on the right of attack.
Line-ups
NETHERLANDS XI: Verbruggen; Geertruida, van Dijk, de Vrij, Ake; Schoeten, Veerman; Malen, Reijnders, Gakpo; Depay.
AUSTRIA XI: Pentz; Posch, Wober, Lienhart, Prass; Seiwald, Grillitsch; Wimmer, Schmid, Sabitzer; Arnautovic.
Line-ups
The announcement of the starting elevens are imminent. Will we see any major changes from either side?
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