If England avoid defeat against Ukraine tomorrow morning they qualify from the group stages which, as the Dutch and the Russians could point out, is the first objective in a tournament. However, while winning the group is a mere bonus by comparison, it usually matters.
England have qualified for the knockout stages of a major tournament seven times in the last quarter of a century. On the three occasions they won the group, they won their next match as well, twice going on to reach the semi-finals. In the four instances England were runners-up, they went out at the next stage on three occasions. The exception is 2002 when they lost in the last eight to Brazil, but England would have avoided the eventual winners until the semi-finals had they won the group.
For England to come first tonight they must overhaul France. A draw will do only if France lose to Sweden. A win will do if France fail to win, or if England's margin of victory is one goal greater than France's, without the latter scoring at least two goals more than England.
England could lose and qualify, but only if France also lose to Sweden, and do so by at least one goal more than England's margin of defeat, without surpassing England's total goals scored in the group stages.
In the unlikely event England and France are level in goal difference and goals scored, England will finish above France by virtue of a superior Uefa ranking.