Red smoke rose, the red flags waved in the Leipzig rain, as wet as the people waving them. But unlike in recent weeks, it was not the numerous fans from Austria who expressed their joy with them. They looked with frozen faces across to the other side, where the Turks could hardly believe their luck on Tuesday evening: In the last game of the European Championship round of 16, Turkey pulled off a surprise victory with a 2-1 win against the favored Austrians. The team will now face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals this Saturday.
The game could not have started worse for Austria. After 57 seconds, Turkey scored from a corner. Defender Demiral drove the ball under the crossbar with the determination of a man who recognizes a gift and does not reject it when it rolls to his feet. Baumgartner shot at Posch as he tried to clear the ball, and goalkeeper Pentz prevented the next own goal of this European Championship, only he sent the ball straight towards Demiral.
Much too fast, much too wild
An early goal against Austria is about as bad for your game as a big purchase at the gas station is for your wallet – because it made it clear that coach Ralf Rangnick’s team had to act on their own instead of from their valued counterattack position.
So they tried to equalize as quickly as possible. At a pace that was reminiscent of the counterattacks in the match against the Netherlands (3:2). Between the third and the seventh minute, Austria could have scored three goals. Christoph Baumgartner and Phillipp Lienhart both missed in front of the opponent’s goal.
Merih Demiral decides the game in Türkiye’s favor with his two goals.dpa
It was clear that the game could not possibly continue at this pace. The action was moving back and forth far too quickly and wildly for human feet to be able to bear it. Calm returned, but only on the pitch. In the stands, fans of both teams engaged in a vocal competition the likes of which the Leipzig stadium has rarely seen.
Austria had more of the ball, but it was clear that the team was not comfortable with it. Austria did not come up with enough in the game before half-time to pose problems for the Turkish defense. The Turks’ lead was the first to surprise their opponents. At least that was the impression given by Rangnick’s men. In March, Austria had won 6-1 in a friendly, but there was no trace of the ease of that time.
They also lacked the cutting edge that had distinguished Austria in their victories against Poland and the Netherlands. No goal. No luck. No confidence. Austria kept pushing, but it was Turkey who scored. Again following the tried and tested pattern: corner from Güler, goal from Demiral. This time with a header.
All the luck that Austria had in the group phase seemed to have been used up. It wasn’t as if Turkey were dominant or particularly adept at counterattacks. They simply scored, and did so with enormous efficiency.
Austria needed a goal more than ever and it came, of course, from a corner. Gregoritsch put the ball over the line after just over an hour. As a substitute, he initiated a final phase that was just as exciting as the beginning of the game. Austria sent cross after cross into the penalty area, but there was always a leg, head or other body part in the way. In the end, it was goalkeeper Günok who prevented the score from being 2-2 with an incredible save.
