Austria 1-2 Turkey
Euro 2024 you are spoiling us!
It’s been one exciting contest after another in the knockout stages and this clash in Leipzig was no different.
Indeed, it was one which offered a big chance for one of the perennial outsiders when it comes to tournament football to reach a quarter-final of a major championship.
From within the first minute, we had Euro 2024 highlights.
Highlights of the game
That’s how long it took Turkey, without the services of inspirational captain Hakan Calhanoglu, to go in front.
Young talent Arda Guler sent in a corner which Austria failed to clear and there was Merih Demiral to lash the ball into the roof of the net.
And so the scene was set for an end-to-end encounter which many didn’t want to end.
Austria almost hit back straight away through Christoph Baumgartner, with Demiral all over him, and while there were few efforts on target, the attacking ethos of both nations was a sight to behold (for neutrals anyway).
There was another chance for Austria to level at the end of the first half which, again, landed at the feet of Baumgartner who, again, couldn’t steer his effort on target after a superb ball from Marcel Sabitzer.
Former Manchester United midfielder Sabitzer was once more entrusted with an advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 setup – one of the best players on show to date – and, even without Patrick Wimmer due to a one-game ban, the Austrians were still favourites with the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds.
With Bundesliga stalwarts Konrad Laimer and Baumgartner, who plies his trade in Leipzig, and Romano Schmid among their ranks, Austria had received plenty of plaudits.
The most club football-adjacent team at these Euros, they had been playing with the fluency of a club team, their energy channelled into well-worn patterns and learned movements.
Their run had been all the more impressive given the absence of David Alaba, yet finding a first-choice defensive setup was perhaps the biggest challenge for Ralf Rangnick and this proved one game too many.
Gernot Trauner (thigh) wasn’t passed fit, Leopold Querfeld was only deemed fit enough for the bench, while Phillipp Mwene, who had struggled with illness, only played the opening half.
Yet Turkey were missing their own men and, despite being pegged back after the restart, doubled their advantage just before the hour with what proved to be the winner.
It was the same delivery and same outcome as the opener as Guler’s corner was headed home by Demiral who leapt highest, even if the defending was questionable.
Eight minutes later and Austria were right back in it as Sabitzer whipped the ball into the danger zone, Stefan Posch nodded down and substitute Michael Gregoritsch readjusted his body to flick into an empty net.
At this point you felt that if Austria were to equalize, they would go onto win, but Baumgartner was still unable to get on the scoreheet as he headed wide.
On the break, Baris Alper Yilmaz would have made it safe but for a fine save for Patrick Pentz.
There was still time for Baumgartner to make his mark and, with seconds remaining, his textbook header seemed destined for the net until Mert Gunok produced a sublime save that was celebrated like a goal.
Second later and the Turkish celebrations were in full swing and Austria were devastated.
This was a special victory for Vincenzo Montella and his players.
When Calhanoglu was booked for remonstrating with a referee last week, causing hm to miss this game, Montella paid tribute to the captain for his “extraordinary goal” in what was an ill-tempered affair, with 16 yellow and two red cards being issued by the referee.
‘These 18 bookings show how intense the match was. Calhanoglu was just asking the referee for an explanation. He’s the captain. That’s his role. He’s allowed to do that. I’m sure he said nothing offensive. That was a bit too strict. And we will pay for it dearly.’
He won’t mind now.
He will have his captain back for the quarter-final against the Dutch, and with Guler and Demiral alongside, don’t rule them out.
Key statistics
Demiral’s opener was the quickest goal ever in the knockout stages of the European Championships.
Turkey now have the earliest goal scorers in knockout rounds at both the European Championships and the World Cup since records began in 1966 (Hakan Sukur v South Korea at World Cup 2002 – 11 seconds).
Their last appearance in the knockout phase was in 2008 when they reached the semi-finals before they were beaten by Germany.
Turkey are unbeaten against Austria in their last six competitive games.
This was the first meeting between the two sides in a major tournament.
Austria’s last victory in the knockout phase of a major tournament was a 3-1 win over Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup.
What’s next?
Turkey will meet Holland in the quarter finals on Saturday evening (July 6) in Berlin.
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