UEFA confirms Netherlands finals place

UEFA has confirmed that the Netherlands are certain to be playing at UEFA EURO 2012, with their total of 24 points from eight games meaning that they will progress either as group winners or as the best runners-up from the qualifying competition.

A 2-0 win in Finland on Tuesday night left Bert van Marwijk's side six points clear of Sweden at the top of Group E. After a perfect campaign thus far, the Oranje look set to clinch top spot. However, they could be theoretically overtaken by Erik Hamrén's team if they lose their remaining matches – at home against Moldova on 7 October and in Sweden four days later. Even in this scenario, though, they would be certain to take one of the ten automatic places in the final tournament regardless, as the best runners-up in the nine qualifying groups.

Therefore the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Italy have all booked their places at next summer's finals alongside co-hosts Poland and Ukraine. Initial qualifying concludes in October, with the runners-up in eight of the groups then competing for four further finals spots in the two-legged play-offs. The play-off draw is staged on 13 October, with the games themselves to take place on 11/12 and 15 November.