Roundup of the latest action at Euro 2020 as Groups B and C drew to a conclusion with teams looking to book their places in the knockout stages.
With Belgium and Netherlands already through, the focus was largely on who would progress as runners-up with Group C seeing a straight fight between Ukraine and Austria, whilst Group D saw the pendulum swing between Finland, Russia and Denmark.
Now here is a full roundup of the final round of group stage actions in both mentioned groups, starting with Group C.
Group C
With Netherlands already through as group winners, Ukraine’s clash against Austria took centre stage as both teams looked to advance as Group B runners-up.
Austria however made the better start as Marko Arnautovic returned to the starting lineup as Xaver Schlager went close just two minutes into the match, only for his shot to be blocked by Oleksandr Zinchenko along with two resulting corners.
Marcel Sabitzer and Aleksandar Dragovic then wasted chances before Arnautovic saw a 16th minute curled shot blocked, with David Alaba then curling wide of the right corner from an initially cleared set piece.
Austria’s pressure eventually paid off five minutes later as Christoph Baumgartner flicked in unmarked from Alaba’s corner.
Daniel Bachmann soon afterwards found himself called into action as he punched Mykola Shaparenko’s curled effort away from the right corner in Ukraine’s only notable chance of the first half, whilst Arnautovic wasted two late chances to double Austria’s lead.
Seven minutes after the break, Andriy Yarmolenko teed up Roman Yaremchuk to shoot only for the shot to be blocked, with the resulting corner cleared.
Arnautovic went up the other end two minutes later but could only fire a volley wide across goal from Alaba’s deflected cross.
Schlager then fired a 57th minute shot wide before Ukraine began to pile on the pressure, yet Andriy Shevchenko’s team couldn’t force a late equaliser to secure second despite Yaremchuk firing marginally wide of the left corner in the 87th minute.
Austria therefore advance to meet Italy at Wembley on Saturday 26 June in the Last 16 with kick off scheduled for 8pm BST UK Time.
Netherlands meanwhile thrashed already eliminated North Macedonia as Memphis Depay put the Dutch ahead, before Georginio Wijnaldum’s brace sealed a 3-0 win and confirm a clash against a third-placed team in Budapest in the Round of 16. .
Group B
Finland met Belgium in their final group game knowing that a point would see them through, whilst defeat coupled with a Denmark win would create complicated maths as to who advanced as Group B runner-up.
Belgium however started on the front foot in a scrappy start in Russia with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku wasting notable chances in the opening half hour.
Belgium’s best first half chance came in the 32nd minute as Lukaku turned Leandro Trossard’s cross towards Axel Witsel, who could only fire over the bar before Lukaku and Jeremy Doku saw late chances saved.
Eden Hazard on the stroke of half time forced a foul on the goal line by Daniel O’Shaughnessy but referee, Felix Brych waved away penalty appeals as the teams entered half-time goalless.
Like the first half, Belgium begun the second half on the front foot and nearly had the lead after the 65th minute as De Bruyne played through from Trossard’s interception and pass for Lukaku to fire in, although the striker was ruled offside by VAR who chalked off the goal.
Finland meanwhile missed a huge chance to take the lead four minutes earlier as Teemu Pukki teed up Joel Pohjanpalo, only for him to roll the ball across for Glenn Kamara who fired straight into Thibaut Courtois’s arms.
Belgium eventually got the lead in the 74th minute when Thomas Vermaelen headed a corner on the bounce towards the right post, with the ball rebounding off the woodwork and in via Lukas Hradecky’s helpless hand as he scrambled to save the ball as it crossed the line.
Victory and progression as Group B winners were eventually sealed in the 81st minute as De Bruyne drove up the pitch and found Lukaku to smash into the bottom right corner on the turn, which completed a 2-0 win.
Finland meanwhile finished third in the group and face the third-placed lottery after Denmark ran riot in a 4-1 win in Copenhagen over Russia, which saw the Danish team finish second and secure a Last 16 clash against Wales in Amsterdam on Saturday 26 June, with kick-off set for 5pm BST UK Time.
Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils meanwhile will face one of the third-placed teams from Groups A, D, E or F depending on who advances once the group stage is fully completed on Wednesday 23 June.
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