Austria take on Turkey in the round of 16 after topping a ‘group of death’ including France and the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
Ralf Rangnick’s tenure at Manchester United might not have been an overall success, but his Austria side have impressed, including a thrilling 3-2 win over the Dutch. Austria have not won a group since in the major tournaments since the 1978 World Cup, and the unorthodox 4-2-2-2 system has reaped its rewards.
Turkey’s journey to the knockout stages has not been as fluent, but they have been involved in some fiery clashes. Their 2-1 win over the Czech Republic included 18 cards shown in or after the game, a new record for any match at the Euros, while their match with Georgia saw fights in the stands before kick-off.
Follow all the live action from Austria v Turkey in the live blog below:
Austria 1-2 Turkey
69 mins: That goal will feed belief into Austria and keep Turkey on their toes. Gregoritsch is full of confidence now and creeps in behind before softly nodding the ball into the arms of Mert Gunok.
Austria know they’re still in this game.
GOAL! Austria 1-2 Turkey (Gregoritsch, 66’)⚽️
66 mins: It’s not over yet!
Austria are awarded a corner which Marcel Sabitzer whips into the middle. Stefan Posch manages to flick it on and Michael Gregoritsch turns it home over by the back post.
Three goals all coming from set pieces.
Austria 0-2 Turkey
62 mins: That could be a killer blow from Turkey. Austria were looking as though they could get back into the game but a second goal gives them a cushion with less than 30 minutes to play.
Brilliant work from the Turks.
GOAL! Austria 0-2 Turkey (Demiral, 59’)⚽️
59 mins: Again!
Turkey double their lead from another set piece and it’s Merih Demiral yet again who comes up with the goods. The ball is swung in towards the near post from Arda Guler.
Demrial times his jump perfectly and heads the ball into the back of the net!
Austria 0-1 Turkey
57 mins: Ferdi Kadioglu drives the ball into the penalty area from the left as Turkey get forward for what feels like the first time in this half.
He shoots as he arrives into the box but the closest defender makes the block. Turkey recover the ball and come again, this time winning themselves a corner.
Austria 0-1 Turkey
54 mins: Austria are zoing in. Konrad Laimer is the latest to have a go after a superb solo run gets him into the penalty area. His standing leg slips just as he shoots however and the effort curls wide of the target.
There’s a buzz to the Austrians now, can they translate that into a goal?
Austria 0-1 Turkey
51 mins: Gregoritsch has been a welcome introduction for Austria. He gets to an aerial ball as it is swung into the box but nods his effort wide under pressure from Merih Demiral.
Still, Austria are getting into dangerous areas and look more likely to break through already.
Austria 0-1 Turkey
48 mins: Close!
A hopeful ball is launched up the pitch and gets chased down by Christoph Baumgartner. He keeps the ball in play at the byline (or does he?) and pulls it into the box.
Michael Gregoritsch arrives from deep and sidefoots his shot wide of the post.
Second half! Austria 0-1 Turkey
There’s a change at the break for Austria with Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch replacing Phillip Mwene and Romano Schmid.
Can they affect this match and swing the momentum Austria’s way?
Ruthless Cody Gakpo maps out route to take Netherlands back to the big time at Euro 2024
For the first time in 16 years, the Netherlands have made it through to a European Championship quarter-final. For a nation which has won the Euros before, it has been an extraordinary period of underperformance in the competition, including one outright failure to qualify at all.
Given this run of non-achievement came on the back of five successive super-impressive outings between 1988 and 2004 – champions, semis, quarters, semis, semis – it makes their return now to the last eight all the more welcome, all the more important and all the more surprising.
Welcome, because of their history, their support, their colour, the nostalgia they bring and more. Important, for the nation itself: Dutch football hasn’t had a tremendous time with manager turnover, the failure to reach the 2018 World Cup and the relative lack of sustained progress at club level in continental competitions.
Source: independent.co.uk
