Austria booked their spot at the Euro 2016 finals next summer with a 4-1 demolition of Sweden in Solna to leave the hosts' chances of joining them in the balance.
First-half goals from David Alaba and Martin Harnik sent the Group G leaders well on their way, before a third and another from Harnik late on wrapped up a stylish win.
In doing so, Austria - who only needed a point - qualify as group winners, but Sweden dropped back to third with two qualifiers remaining after Russia obliterated Liechtenstein.
Below, relive the drama with our live text commentary.
The Friends Arena plays host tonight as Sweden welcome Austria to Solna, but there's nothing jovial about this encounter. Second in Group G, the hosts need a victory in order to keep Russia - who face Liechtenstein - at bay in the race to automatically qualify for Euro 2016. Austria, on the other hand, only need a point to qualify. Just a point. Context equals smashed. Let's look at the teams.
SWEDEN XI: Isaksson; Larsson, Antonsson, Granqvist, Olsson; Zengin, Källström, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Ibrahimović
AUSTRIA XI: Almer; Dragovic, Fuchs, Alaba, Prodl; Klein, Januzovic, Baumgartlinger, Arnautovic; Harnik, Janko
From looking at that, the BIG news is definitely that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's inclusion. The big man hobbled off at half-time during their 1-0 defeat in Russia at the weekend, but thankfully for him and his nation, he's okay. Emil Forsberg also starts, having impressed in Moscow, while there's also room for Kim Kallstrom. Arsenal fans will remember him. Maybe.
On to Austria now and, with three goals in qualifying, Marc Janko spearheads the attack as the visitors look to pick up the point needed to secure for their first ever Euros! Watford defender Sebastian Prodl and Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic also in the first XI. David Alaba comes up against Seb Larsson at right-back tonight? Tactical mistake by Erik Hamren? Time will tell.
I can't tell if this is a train, plane or automobile. Well, not automobile, but it's definitely a train or a plane. Anywho, it doesn't matter - the important thing is that they arrived safe and sound to the Friends Arena. That's a nice name for a stadium.
Austria fans en route to Sweden! #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/tImtEWZFcC
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) September 8, 2015
So, what's the state of play in Group G? How did Austria come to be on the brink of their first ever European Championship - and how have Sweden been dragged into a dogfight to secure their automatic qualification place? Let's have a recap.
Unbeaten in qualifying, Marcel Koller's Austria have picked up 19 points from 21, which is brilliant. The only team to take points off them was in fact Sweden, following a 1-1 draw one year ago to the day. Since then they've been on a six-match winning streak and a point tonight will see them through. Well done to them.
And what about Sweden? Well, Erik Hamren's side were also cruising to France next summer, but a 1-0 defeat by Russia on Saturday threw Leonid Slutsky's men a lifeline. Now, they're only one point of the third-placed Russians with three to play - including tonight. And with them facing Liechtenstein away, you have to assume that Sweden need to win in order to hold on to second place. It's so very tight.
Note the way she didn't tweet Zlatan directly incase he saw the gauntlet being thrown down and responded by scoring three hat-tricks. Five-minute warning, folks.
Sweden got a game against Austria today, Zlatan u are going down. GO AUSTRIA
— O'NoEA Just No (@SkyBlueOHara) September 8, 2015
And here come the lads. Anthems anyone?
KICKOFF: And we're off at the Friends Arena in Solna, folks. Can Sweden boost their automatic qualification hopes, or will Austria get the point needed to quality? Let's find out. Austria kick us off.
Austria have a free kick already after Marc Janko goes to ground following an over-zealous aerial contest by one the Swedish defenders.
SHOT! David Alaba, who has three goals in his qualification campaign, takes the free kick but his left-footed drive from about 30 yards is well wide of the target.
Erkan Zengin, who scored in the reverse fixture in Austria, looks to play in Zlatan, but his low cross is cut out. Fairly even start here it has to be said. I can see both sides scoring a few tonight.
Kim Kallstrom whips a very decent cross into the box, but Granqvist is beaten to the ball by goalkeeper Almer. Sweden look decent in that final third.
SHOT! Zengin chests the ball into the path of Marcus Berg, whose first-time volley flies wide of the mark. It was never testing the Austrian stopper but another statement by Sweden.
PENALTY TO AUSTRIA! Kim Kallstrom fouls Zlatko Junuzovic in the area and now huge chance for Austria.
GOAL! Sweden 0-1 Austria (David Alaba)
Take a bow Mr Alaba, who steps up to the penalty executes a perfect Panenka and Austria are so close to France that they can smell the baguettes!
SAVE! Oh so close to an immediate riposte by Sweden, as Ibrahimovic's free kick looks to be curling toward the top corner, but Almer pulls off a fine save to punch it away. Class game this already.
Just a reminder that if Sweden lose, and Russia beat Liechtenstein away, then Russia move second with a two-point cushion and with two qualifiers remaining! This was, and still is, a must-win game for Sweden. Make no mistake about it.
Sweden boss Erik Hamren looks like an accountant. That is all.
Seb Larsson swings a corner into the mixer now, but there's no yellow shirt on the end of it as Austria clear. Set pieces could be key for Sweden tonight. With Ibra, Larsson and Kallstrom, there's no shortage of set-piece specialists there.
Forsberg is a bit lucky to avoid a booking here as he goes in high on Sebastian Prodl. He wins the ball, but it was still very dangerous. Twenty minutes in and this is a very good game.
SHOT! Forsberg does really well to control Kallstrom's low cross, before spinning an Austrian defender and pulling the trigger from the edge of the box, but his left-footed curler is always sailing over the bar.
Ibrahimovic's neck is about as thick as an oak tree. What has he done in the gym to achieve that I wonder? Anywho, he swing in a free kick here, but an acrobatic clearance from Christian Fuchs clears the danger.
BOOKING: First booking of the game as Januzovic enters the book for a challenge on Larsson. Zlatan is eyeing it up....
CLOSE! It is indeed Ibrahimovic who takes the shot - and what a shot it is! His low free kick whistles just wide of the post. Goalkeeper Almer's facial expressions suggest that it wasn't close at all, but he's certainly just saving face.
We said set pieces were important for Sweden, but Larsson should've done better here. He's got a free kick to the right of the goal, and he fires it into the danger zone and hopes. It's a bit too early for hit and hope, I think. We're not even at the half-hour mark. In any case, Sweden are utterly dominant.
BOOKING: This is a fiery clash. It really is, and Marc Janko goes into the book for intentionally not contesting an aerial ball with Granqvist, who landed like a sack of spuds. The Friends Arena this stadium is called...
It's still all Sweden. They'll want to use this last 12 minutes in the first half to crank up their pursuit of an equaliser but one isn't far away. It's really not.
Bad news from Liechtenstein, as Russia lead 1-0! As it stands, Sweden in third in Group G - outside the automatic qualifying places.
Austria ease the pressure somewhat in recent minutes. Bear in mind that they've got three points as it stands, and they only need one to qualify, so don't be surprised if they get very, very defensive after the break.
GOAL! Sweden 0-2 Austria (Martin Harnik)
Incredible scenes in Solna as Austria earn a 2-0 lead despite being dominated in this half! It's a long throw which Janko flicked on to the far post, and Harnik got the run on Olsson to nod home. Sweden boss Hamren will be furious - and rightly so. Far too easy.
CHANCE! Austria could, and certainly should, be 3-0 up. Christian Fuchs plays Arnautovic through on goal with a fine ball, but the Stoke man is denied in his one-on-one with Isaksson. Good save, but should be 3-0.
When it rains, it pours. Russia double their lead in Lichenstein. As it stands, they're second by two points. Sweden in the playoff positions.
HALF TIME: Sweden 0-2 Austria
Wow. Just wow. How that happened we're not quite sure. Sweden have been much better, but Austria lead 2-0! First, Alaba clipped home a fine penalty inside 10 minutes, before Harnik ran on to Janko's excellent flick-on to nod home a second on 39 minutes. Amazing. Austria needed only a point to guarantee their Euro 2016 spot, but they're going for all three. Fair play to them.
Oh, and it's now 3-0 to Russia away to Liechtenstein! Unless Sweden score three in the second period, whilst limiting Austria to the two they already have, then the Russians are going to finish the night in the second and last automatic qualification spot.
RESTART! And we're back underway. What a massive task Sweden have on their hands in order to hang on to their second-place in Group G. They need to win!
SHOT! Two minutes gone and no sign of Austria sitting on their 2-0 lead as of yet, with Alaba, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot, driving a left-footed drive well over the bar now.
Terrible ball from Marcus Berg goes straight out of play now and Sweden just haven't looked the same since that second goal went in. Prior to that, they were bossing things, but that Harnik goal hit them for six.
Mikael Antonsson is lucky to avoid a yellow for this challenge. He goes through Arnautovic for a short cut on the edge of the box, without really winning the ball, but the referee is having none of it. Sweden need to calm down. There's two qualifiers left after this. Ibrahimovic needs to make sure they don't start throwing the baby out with the bathwater here.
This is a really fiery game; sliding tackles everywhere you look, but thankfully all are legal and safe. Still, I'd be surprised if we didn't see a red card in this last 35 minutes or so.
CHANCE! Oh my word what a truly brilliant attacking move this is from Austria, as Janko's backheel plays in Arnautovic, whose pull back for Alaba is brilliant but the Bayern man is denied by Isaksson. Austria well on top.
Another free kick chance for Ibra now. Will it be third-time lucky? Dragovic wrestles him to the floor but he avoids a yellow.
Nope. Zlatan cannons his free kick straight into the wall and Austria clear the danger. If anything, that was too close for the big striker.
SUB: Sweden make their first sub as Erkin Zengin, who looks a little like Kal Drogo, is replaced by Isaac Kiese Thelin. Will it make a difference?
WHAT A SAVE! This is incredible from Robert Almer, who somehow keeps out Berg's volley from point-blank range to preserve the visitors' clean sheet. Sweden turning the screw, but it's not enough.
One of the Sweden players probably needs to shoot someone before the referee gives Austria a free kick. I'm not suggesting bias, but I am suggesting that the referee is giving Austria nothing.
The tempo has died down in recent minutes and, if I'm honest, I can't see Sweden scoring. It's very unlikely. Austria are playing too well.
Sweden just starting to lose their heads now as Olsson and Kallstrom pull out rash challenges, which the referee acknowledges, but no yellow for either of them.
I've been really impressed by Austria. At no point have they sat back and tried to defend their lead. They're still pouring forward and Janko is called offside just now.
GOAL! Sweden 0-3 Austria (Marc Janko)
Having just missed a glorious chance, Alaba sets up Janko for a third and we can stick a fork in it now. Austria been brilliant. Sweden being out-classed at the Friends Arena.
SUB: Sweden make their second sub now as Olsson makes way for Durmaz. Bit late in the day, but good luck to them.
Incidentally, it's now SIX over in Liechenstein as Russia lead 6-0. They're not only moving second in Group G, but they're bolstering their goal difference in the process incase they need it. They look a team reborn under Leonid Slutsky.
SUB: Janko, who has four goals now in qualifying, makes way for Ilsanker
GOAL! Sweden 0-4 Austria (Martin Harnik)
Watch out for Austria in France next summer because they've been brilliant tonight. They carve Sweden open at will and Harnik secures his second of the night. What a performance. They only needed a point!
GOAL! Sweden 1-4 Austria (Ibrahimovic)
The big man reduces the arrears late on but that'll be that.
FULL TIME: Sweden 1-4 Austria
Well, that was just brilliant from Austria. David Alaba, Marc Janko and a double from Martin Harnik earned a 4-0 lead, before Ibrahimovic reduced the arrears in the dying moments. Austria are heading to France for the finals next summer - and in style, at that - while there's work to be done if Sweden are to join them. Lots of work.
That's it from us. See you next time and thanks for joining our live text coverage. Hopefully you've enjoyed it!
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
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