The Turks, second in Group F, and the Austrians, top of Group D, France’s, could dream of the quarter-finals this Tuesday evening in Leipzig. The Dutch, freshly qualified after beating Romania a little earlier in the day (3-0), could sit back and watch their future opponent. And from the kick-off, the game became lively.
True to form, the Austrians rushed forward at the start of the game but after a handful of seconds (1st), it was they who found themselves chasing the score. The fault of a corner jointly botched by Stephan Posch, Christoph Baumgartner and Patrick Pentz. On the lookout, Turkish defender Merih Demiral took advantage and catapulted the ball under the bar from close range (2nd).
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After 57 seconds, Demiral scored the fastest goal in Euro history in a knockout match. Only Hakan Sükür (11 seconds against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup third-place match) has scored faster for Turkey at a major tournament.
The intensity displayed by both nations allowed for a fast-paced encounter. Clear opportunities were not plentiful on either side. In the end, neither Christoph Baumgartner (5th, 45th) nor Marko Arnautovic (51st) managed to beat Fehmi Günok. Then, on another corner kicked from the right side, Demiral, again, allowed his team to take cover (59th).
Practically at home with their fans present in mass in Germany, Vincenzo Montella’s players gradually withdrew into their camp and Michael Gregoritsch, who came on at half-time, gave his team hope (66th). The Red attacks then continued to rain down on Günok’s goal (81st, 84th), in vain. After a final masterful save from their goalkeeper in front of Baumgartner, the Turks could finally exult and celebrate their first quarter-final since 2008 (elimination against Germany in the semi-finals).
The player: Demiral double scorer, double happiness
A substitute at the start of the competition, Merih Demiral gradually made his mark until he was able to claim a starting spot against the Czech Republic in the last group match before continuing on Tuesday evening with the confidence of Montella.
Having left last summer for Saudi Arabia (Al Ahli) at just 26 years old, the solid right-hander logically saw himself relegated to the hierarchy of central defenders, but was able to take advantage of this evening in Leipzig to capsize the many Turkish fans present in the stands thanks to a saving double (1st, 59th). The first for a defender in major competitions (Euro + World Cup) in a knockout match since… Lilian Thuram in 1998.
