Report from Euro 2024 as Austria beat the Netherlands to qualify for the final 16 as Group D winners; Marcel Sabitzer and Romano Schmid rating for Austria after Donyell Malen’s personal objective; Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay on course for the Netherlands, who end third behind runners-up France
By Dan Sansom, Soccer Journalist @DanSansom_
10:32, UK, Wednesday 26 June 2024
Austria deservedly edged a five-goal thriller in opposition to the Netherlands to qualify for the final 16 of Euro 2024 as Group D winners.
Ralf Rangnick’s well-organised and spectacular aspect have been twice pegged again in an entertaining contest in Berlin however Marcel Sabitzer had the ultimate say 10 minutes from time.
A Donyell Malen personal objective gave Austria an early lead with Romano Schmid placing them again in entrance after a Cody Gakpo leveller.
Memphis Depay scored the Netherlands’ second equaliser however it was not sufficient as Austria ended up leapfrogging each them and runners-up France, who have been held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in Dortmund.
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How Austria upset the chances to win Group D
Each nations knew development to the final 16 was all however confirmed heading into their ultimate Group D fixture. The Netherlands’ spot within the subsequent spherical was already assured – a minimum of as among the best third-placed groups – whereas Austria knew even a defeat would see them qualify in third except they misplaced by a five-goal margin.
However with the highest two positions within the group nonetheless up for grabs, each side wished to complete with a victory and it was Austria who appeared set to just do that when Malen diverted Alexander Prass’ harmful cross into his personal web within the sixth minute.
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Austria took the lead when Donyell Malen diverted a cross into his personal web within the sixth minute
Rangnick’s aspect continued to impress each out and in of possession however the Netherlands responded nicely and may have equalised halfway by means of the primary half, just for Malen to pull a shot large when performed by means of by Tijjani Reijnders, who had earlier missed the goal himself.
Austria remained harmful and nearly doubled their benefit late within the half, however Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen stored out Sabitzer’s long-range drive earlier than Marko Arnautovic did not make contact with the ball from just a few yards out after Florian Grillitsch’s effort was deflected into his path.
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Cody Gakpo equalised for the Netherlands instantly after the break
The Austrians deservedly led at half-time however the Netherlands hit again instantly after the break. Lutsharel Geertruida’s wonderful deal with gave first-half substitute Xavi Simons the possibility to drive ahead and his ultimate move was rounded off emphatically by Liverpool ahead Gakpo (47).
The Dutch had lastly gained some momentum however they weren’t stage for lengthy. Their equaliser didn’t faze Austria and so they retook the lead by means of Schmid, who headed in Grillitsch’s pinpoint cross by way of a Stefan de Vrij deflection (59).
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Romano Schmid restored Austria’s lead within the 59th minute
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Memphis Depay’s wonderful end introduced the Netherlands stage for a second time
Depay thought he had introduced the Netherlands stage once more when he managed and volleyed in substitute Wout Weghorst’s knock-down within the seventy fifth minute, just for the objective to be instantly dominated out for handball. Nonetheless, replays confirmed that was not the case and referee Ivan Kruzliak overturned his choice after being suggested by the VAR to overview the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Whereas the Dutch had hopes of discovering a late winner, Austria had different concepts and went forward for the third time within the match simply 5 minutes later by means of Sabitzer, who was performed by means of exquisitely by substitute Christoph Baumgartner earlier than smashing an effort previous Verbruggen from the tightest of angles.
There was nonetheless time for Baumgartner to have a objective disallowed for offside and Weghorst to ship a diving header over the bar earlier than the nation ranked twenty fifth on the planet have been confirmed as Group D winners, with the Netherlands having to settle as among the best third-placed qualifiers.
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Marcel Sabitzer’s Eightieth-minute strike was the distinction in Berlin
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Rangnick: An unbelievable feat to complete prime
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick mentioned: “We deserved to win ultimately. General, we had the higher will to win and an excessive power output on the pitch, which you possibly can really feel in each part of the match.
“The best way we reacted to the targets we conceded, that we did not bend, that we stayed true to our model of play and consistently stored in search of out our possibilities going ahead.
“It is unbelievable to complete prime of a gaggle that was the toughest potential based mostly on UEFA coefficients.
“We began with an unfortunate personal objective in opposition to France, handled all of the stress placed on us to win in opposition to Poland, after which to finish as group winners is one thing very particular.”
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Ralf Rangnick has led Austria to back-to-back Euro 2024 victories
Koeman: We deserved to lose
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman mentioned: “We began very badly in lots of points. There have been many openings for the opponent. We weren’t aggressive and there was a scarcity of stress on the opponents.
“It was very dangerous. We didn’t management the match early. Afterward we carried out barely higher and we had just a few alternatives, however they punished us.
“We’ve got to take duty on the pitch; we’re not entitled to get a greater end result.
“We knew earlier than the match that if we end third we’d get an enormous nation within the subsequent spherical. We’ll wait and see what occurs.”
Evaluation: Harmful Austria will not worry anybody
Sky Sports activities’ Dan Sansom:
Ralf Rangnick admitted there was doubt among the many gamers when he was employed as Austria’s supervisor in 2022, however the 65-year-old has now led the nation to back-to-back wins at a serious event for the primary time for the reason that 1982 World Cup – and he is finished so in wonderful model.
Generally known as one of many godfathers of “gegenpressing”, the German has left a everlasting mark on fashionable soccer and Austria’s present squad is excelling below his steering.
Their aggressive, front-foot method noticed them carry out nicely in a slender loss to France and extra eye-catching shows adopted in deserved wins over Poland and the Netherlands.
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Austria have reached the knockout stage of Euro 2024 as Group D winners
Whereas Austria’s tireless operating and fluid motion brought on the Dutch fixed issues in Berlin, their never-say-die perspective – instilled by Rangnick – was equally as spectacular.
Many will view a rustic ranked twenty fifth on the planet as a shock bundle at this event, however Austria have now misplaced simply twice in 19 matches.
Rangnick’s aspect are a pressure to be reckoned with. They will not worry anybody within the knockout stage.
Who faces who within the final 16?
Austria will face the runners-up in Group F (at present Turkey) within the final 16, with France dealing with the runners-up in Group E (at present Belgium).
The Netherlands’ subsequent opponents should not but confirmed. They may face Group B winners Spain, Group C winners England or Group E winners (at present Romania).
As soon as the 4 finest third-placed groups have been decided, UEFA then allocates every nation to a last-16 tie in step with its rules.
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How does rating third-placed groups work?
The highest two groups from every of the six teams will proceed to the spherical of 16.
These 12 sides will probably be joined by 4 of the six third-placed finishers within the teams. The edges ending third will probably be positioned right into a league desk, with the highest 4 sides progressing to the final 16.
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The groups that end third of their respective teams are ranked so as of the next standards, beginning with:
PointsGoal differenceGoals scoredWinsLower disciplinary factors totalEuropean Qualifiers total rating
The event then strikes to a straight knockout format, with one-legged ties – together with extra-time and penalties if mandatory – till two sides attain the ultimate on July 14 in Berlin.
Opta stats: Sabitzer makes historical past for Austria
Marcel Sabitzer grew to become the primary Austrian to play 10 matches on the European Championships, scoring his first objective within the competitors from his twenty second shot.Austria have ended a run of seven consecutive defeats to the Netherlands in all competitions, with this their first victory since a 3-2 pleasant win in 1990.Austria scored their sixth objective at Euro 2024, their most in any version of the European Championships and their most in a serious event for the reason that 1978 World Cup.Cody Gakpo has scored 5 of the Netherlands’ final eight group-stage targets at main tournaments, with no different Dutch participant netting greater than as soon as in these matches.
Stats: Story of the match
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Group D ultimate outcomes…
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