EM Austria loses round of 16
“Some of us cried” – Ralf Rangnick, disillusioned and sad
Status: 02.07.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Lightning start with a ping-pong goal – the Turkish opening goal in video
Turkey took the lead against Austria in the European Championship round of 16 after just 57 seconds. Demiral scored from a corner to make it 1-0 and put them in the quarter-finals. Watch the goal in the video.
During the European Championship, Austria developed from a dark horse to a title contender. But in the round of 16 against Turkey, the team tensed up and was unexpectedly eliminated. Players and coaches reacted in shock.
Christoph Baumgartner was completely free to head the ball. The European Championship round of 16 match against Turkey was already in stoppage time when the midfielder had a huge chance to prevent Austria from being eliminated at the last second. Baumgartner headed the ball towards goal from close range, but Mert Günok stretched out and made a sensational save before the final whistle.
It was the last action of the game, after the 1:2 defeat against Turkey, Austria was completely unexpectedly eliminated in the round of 16. Ralf Rangnick’s team was considered a dark horse before the European Championship, and with strong performances in the preliminary round against the Netherlands and Poland, the team blossomed into a title contender. Now there was a huge disappointment in the round of 16, Austria missed out on reaching the quarter-finals of a European Championship for the first time.
Mert Günok secures Turkey’s victory in the last second
Source: REUTERS
“This is not a normal defeat, but a really bitter defeat. The team actually had really good prospects of getting very far in this tournament,” said Michael Ballack on MagentaTV.
Austria went into the round of 16 as clear favorites and dominated the field for 90 minutes. The team failed to capitalize on its chances against a passionately defending Turks. Rangnick was accordingly disappointed after the surprising exit.
“I am very disappointed and sad”
“We lost very, very, very unluckily. The shot ratio was 21 to six in our favor. We had at least as many clear chances to score as in the friendly match in March, which we won 6-1. The difference is that we took advantage of them then and not today. That’s why it feels very surreal and grotesque that we have to travel home today,” said Rangnick.
Austria and Ralf Rangnnick fail in the European Championship round of 16 against Turkey
Source: dpa/Robert Michael
In the second half, his team played 45 minutes of power play: “We didn’t defend well on the two set pieces. I can’t remember Turkey having a clear goal chance from the game, except for one.”
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“I am very disappointed and sad. Some of us cried. I think we were undeservedly eliminated. But you have to give Turkey respect for the way they defended. The goalkeeper’s save in the last minute was the best I have seen live. It was unbelievable how he saved the ball,” said Michael Gregoritsch.
