Austria scored two stunning goals on Tuesday as they stunned Netherlands 3-2 and emerged leaders of Group D with France playing a 1-1 draw against Poland who are out of Euro 2024.
Austria and France qualify automatically while the Netherlands go through to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.
Netherlands began the day top of the group but they fell behind twice to Austria and looked like they would secure a point but a screamer from Marcel Sabitzer for Austria left Netherlands grappling for straws.
In the second match, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski both scored from the spot to share the spoils.
Austria topped the table with six points, one ahead of second-placed France on five and the Dutch with four points.
Austria took a shock lead at the Olympiastadion when Donyell Malen turned the ball into his own net six minutes into the contest but Cody Gakpo equalised soon after the break.
Romano Schmid put Austria ahead again just before the hour in a see-saw second half, with Memphis Depay equalising in the 75th.
Sabitzer capped a determined showing from Ralf Rangnick’s side and see them emerge as surprise winners of the group, whose final placings were up in the air as positions in the standings changed several times over the 90 minutes.
They will next meet the Group F runners-up, which will be decided on Wednesday, while France and the Netherlands must also wait to find out the identity of their last-16 opponents.
“When you win like that, win the group, score the winning goal, it doesn’t get any better than that. You can see that we rotate through the team and nothing is missed, everyone knows their position and what they have to do,” said Sabitzer.
France fail to sparkle
Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with his first European Championship goal – and the first scored by a French player at Euro 2024 – when he calmly slotted home a penalty given for Jakub Kiwior’s clumsy challenge on Ousmane Dembele.
But Dayot Upamecano brought down Polish substitute Karol Swiderksi, which allowed Lewandowski to level from the spot in the 79th minute – after his first effort was saved by Mike Maignan, who was adjudged to have advanced off his line too early.
The draw means France finish second in Group D behind Austria and will face whoever comes second in Group E, where Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine are all on three points.
