Virgil van Dijk scored a last-minute equaliser with a fierce volley against already relegated Germany in Gelsenkirchen on Monday night to secure the Netherlands a week in Portugal next June for the finals of the Nations League.

Germany 2-2 Netherlands, Denmark 0-0 Republic of Ireland: Nations League – as it happened Read more

The Dutch rallied after Quincy Promes pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining and set up a nervous finale for Germany, who had dominated throughout and looked good value for their 2-0 lead, a result which would have sent France through as group winners. Ronald Koeman’s side will join Portugal, Switzerland and England (the highest ranked of the four by Fifa) in the finals. The draw will be made in Dublin on 3 December.

The Netherlands, who defeated Germany 3-0 in Amsterdam last month, made a cautious start but they fell behind after nine minutes when Timo Werner fired a low drive past Jasper Cillessen from 25 yards. Leroy Sané added a second 11 minutes later when his left-foot shot from 18 yards went in with the aid of a deflection off Tete.

Germany knocked the ball around with total confidence in the second half and should have been out of sight but Promes’ fine goal changed the mood. Van Dijk stayed up the pitch on the assistant manager’s orders and got the reward after a cross into the box was headed on. It also ensured Germany finished without a win in group A.

Quick guide Nations League fixtures and results Show Hide Thursday 15 November League A, Group 2: Belgium 2-0 Iceland

A4: Croatia 3-2 Spain

B3: Austria 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

C2: Hungary 2-0 Estonia, Greece 1-0 Finland

D1: Kazakhstan 1-1 Latvia, Andorra 1-1 Georgia

D2: Luxembourg 0-2 Belarus, San Marino 0-1 Moldova Friday 16 November League A, Group 1: Netherlands 2-0 France

B1: Slovakia 4-1 Ukraine

B4: Wales 1-2 Denmark

C3: Cyprus 1-1 Bulgaria, Slovenia 1-1 Norway

D4: Gibraltar 2-6 Armenia, Liechtenstein 0-2 FYR Macedonia Saturday 17 November League A, Group 3: Italy 0-0 Portugal

B2: Turkey 0-1 Sweden

C1: Albania 0-4 Scotland

C4: Serbia 2-1 Montenegro, Romania 3-0 Lithuania

D3: Azerbaijan 2-0 Faroe Islands, Malta 0-5 Kosovo Sunday 18 November League A, Group 2: Switzerland 5-2 Belgium

A4: England 2-1 Croatia

B3: Northern Ireland 1-2 Austria

C2: Hungary 2-0 Finland, Greece 0-1 Estonia

D2: San Marino 0-2 Belarus, Moldova 1-1 Luxembourg Monday 19 November League A, Group 1: Germany 2-2 Netherlands

B1: Czech Republic 1-0 Slovakia

B4: Denmark 0-0 Republic of Ireland

C3: Cyprus 0-2 Norway, Bulgaria 1-1 Slovenia

D1: Georgia 2-1 Kazakhstan, Andorra 0-0 Latvia

D4: FYR Macedonia 4-0 Gibraltar, Liechtenstein 2-2 Armenia Tuesday 20 November League A, Group 3: Portugal 1-1 Poland

B2: Sweden 2-0 Russia

C1: Scotland 3-2 Israel

C4: Serbia 4-1 Lithuania, Montenegro 0-1 Romania

D3: Malta 1-1 Faroe Islands, Kosovo 4-0 Azerbaijan Ups and downs so far League A

Finals: Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, England

Relegated: Germany, Iceland, Poland, Croatia League B

Promoted: Ukraine, Sweden, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark

Relegated: Slovakia, Turkey, N Ireland, Rep of Ireland League C

Promoted: Scotland, Finland, Norway, Serbia

Relegated: Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Cyprus League D

Promoted: Georgia, Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

“There is still much to improve, we have seen that again today, but this team has shown that it has a bright future ahead,” Koeman said.

The Republic of Ireland ended their year on a positive note with a 0-0 draw in Denmark, though they barely threatened in the match. Christian Eriksen went close when he curled a 42nd-minute free-kick inches over the Irish crossbar and Nicolai Jørgensen saw a shot come back off a post in the second period. “Overall, in terms of creativity [we were ] maybe not completely there, but I thought the commitment was absolutely excellent against a very strong Danish team,” said Martin O’Neill, the Republic manager.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nicolai Jørgensen hits the post for Denmark in Copenhagen. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho/Rex/Shutterstock

“In the competitive games we’ve played this season, I think that might have been our eighth debutant, and the players are getting used to playing with each other. The players are bedding in, young players coming on. This is international football, this is a massive step up for a number of our players, but they are trying to adjust.”

Quick guide Nations League finals Show Hide The format The first semi-final, between hosts Portugal and Switzerland, takes place in Porto on Wednesday 5 June (7.45pm BST). England's semi-final against Netherlands is on Thursday (7.45pm) in Guimaraes. The winners progress to Sunday's final in Porto (7.45pm), and there's also a third-place play-off in Guimaraes on the same day (2pm). How they qualified All four sides won their groups in League A. England made it with a comeback win over Croatia at Wembley, while Netherlands scored two late goals to draw with Germany and deny France. Portugal topped the group of potential hosts ahead of Italy and Poland, and Switzerland pipped Belgium on head-to-head record with a 5-2 win in Lucerne. What do the winners get? The inaugural Nations League winners will receive an elaborate trophy (pictured above), as well as a total prize pot of €10.5m (£9.36m). The winners will not qualify for Euro 2020 automatically, however. Photograph: Pierre Albouy/X03420

Slovakia were relegated from group B after losing 1-0 to the Czech Republic. A point would have been enough to secure the Czechs’ survival in a group that had already been won by Ukraine but Roma’s Patrik Schick gave them some comfort.