TOPS/FLOPS – The Netherlands qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 thanks to their victory against Romania (3-0) on Tuesday.
Tops
Demiral voit double
He is the man who qualified Turkey single-handedly! Author of a double during Turkey’s victory this Tuesday evening in the quarter-final of the Euro against Austria, he enters the legend of his selection. First with a heavy strike full of success, then with a furious header, Demiral found the Austrian net. These two goals, he owes them to corners magnificently struck by Arda Güler.
Günok’s Year of the Year Stop
It’s the 94th minute, Turkey leads 2 goals to 1 and has been under pressure from the Austrians since the middle of the second half. Mert Günok has already made several decisive saves and sees a cross arrive in his area. The Austrian Baumgartner is on the rebound and delivers a diving header. While he seems beaten, Günok pulls off a crazy reflex save and stops the ball with his right hand as it heads towards the goal. Probably the best save of this Euro, the one that saves his team and sends them to the quarter-finals.
Güler on the loose
His position has been a subject of debate in Turkey since the start of the Euro, the Italian coach of Turkey Vincenzo Montella has this time decided to line him up in a hybrid position. At the forefront of the attack, but free in his movements and choices. A position that has allowed the Real Madrid nugget to be both creative and finishing, while being able to reward us with his explosiveness and dribbling. Note his great precision on set pieces, which was the origin of his team’s two goals. With this type of player, freedom is often a guarantee of danger.
Flops
A winning goal
You had to be on time to follow this round of 16 match between Turkey and Austria, at the risk of missing Demiral’s opening goal. A gag goal conceded by the Austrian defense on an unlucky move. Following a well-taken corner by Arda Güler, the ball landed on an Austrian defender who nearly scored an own goal. The ball was miraculously saved by goalkeeper Pentz, who unfortunately put it back in the middle onto Demiral’s left foot, who shot it at point-blank range. A mess that got the Austrians’ game off to a very bad start.
Arnautovic, a failure who changes everything
It was the chance that could have changed everything. In the 50th minute, Marko Arnautovic was found by an incredible pass from Stefan Posch behind the Turkish central defence. The Inter Milan player then found himself face-to-face with Günok with the possibility of bringing his team back to level. Unfortunately, the man who is nicknamed in his country the «Zlatan» Austrian, comes out on the losing end of this duel. Captain of his team, Arnautovic missed the opportunity to change the course of the match a few minutes before Demiral scored his second goal.
Also read: Romania – Netherlands: Gakpo brilliant, Nita guilty… The tops and the flops
