Austria will face Turkey in Leipzig on Tuesday at 9pm in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. Das Team has ambitions, after finishing first ahead of France in the group stage, against a Turkey team that will be without its captain for this knockout match.
Published on: 02/07/2024 – 09:34
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Austria will face one of its recent victims, Turkey, on Tuesday 2 July in Leipzig, in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. Das Team aims to continue its good momentum from the first round and take advantage of an open draw against the Turks, who have had a difficult group stage.
It was only a friendly match, on March 26, but Turkey experienced a real ordeal against Austria, thrashed 6 goals to 1 with a hat-trick from Michael Gregoritsch. For a while, they were able to compete, equalizing in the middle of the first half. But the Austrian intensity then got the better of Vincenzo Montella’s men, with three goals just before and after the break.
Since then, Austria has gained even more confidence by taking first place in Group D from under the noses of the French and the Dutch, thanks to two victories against Poland (3-1) and the Netherlands (3-2).
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The Blues themselves, although victorious against the team led by Ralf Rangnick (1-0), had been seriously shaken – in particular Kylian Mbappé’s nose, which was fractured. Finishing first in a group including France, with the manner and consequence of being relegated to a table without the big favourites, gave Austria a new status.
Whether Ralf Rangnick likes it or not. “Months ago, when I was asked, I said that I didn’t think it was very likely to win the Euro without completely ruling it out, and that’s what I would say again today,” says the coach. His attacking midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is getting even more involved: “We’ve taken the first step, now that we’re in the knockout phase, we can see far, we have the qualities to beat anyone.”
“The youngest team in the round of 16” deprived of its captain
Hit by the March rout, Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella is also convinced: “Austria took first place in a difficult group, that says a lot about their level. They are a very physical, organized team, which resembles that of a club because they seem to know each other very well and the cogs are well oiled.” A reference to the many players belonging to Leipzig and Salzburg, two clubs in the Red Bull galaxy.
The Turks, for their part, had to recover from a grueling group stage, where they had to defend second place until the end against the enterprising Czechs.
Coach Vincenzo Montella has spotted a weakness: “We need to manage our emotions better. We are the youngest team in the round of 16 – of my starting XI, only three players have played at Euro 2021.”
And in this regard, there is no worse news than the suspension for this match not only of central defender Samet Akaydin, but especially of captain Hakan Calhanoglu who, at 30, is shining in the national team. He was one of the key players during the qualification against the Czechs (2-1), with a sumptuous goal on a long-range shot with the outside of the foot. But more broadly he is of a serenity at all costs, which could be lacking on Tuesday.
With AFP
