Austria 3-2 Netherlands (June 25, 2024) Game Analysis

Austria’s aggressive and hard-working approach took them through to the round of 16 of the European Championships on Tuesday, as a thrilling 3-2 win over the Netherlands saw them not only progress but also take first place in Group D.

The Dutch advanced as one of the four best finishers in third place, despite conceding an early own goal, having played a good first half before losing to Austria through a goal by Marcel Sabitzer 10 minutes from time. .

With Poland holding France to a 1-1 draw in the group’s second game in Dortmund, Austria top the table with six points, five ahead of second-placed France and four ahead of the Dutch.

Austria took a surprise lead at the Olympiastadion when Donyal Malen headed the ball into his own net six minutes into the contest but Cody Gakpo equalized shortly after the break.

Romano Schmid put Austria ahead again just before the hour mark in the second half, with Memphis Depay equalizing in the 75th minute.

It was left to Sabitzer to cap a determined performance from Ralf Rangnick and see them emerge as surprise winners of the group, whose final position was up in the air as the position in the standings changed hands several times over the 90 minutes.

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They next face the Group F runners-up, which will be decided on Wednesday, while France and the Netherlands also wait to know the identities of their last-16 opponents.

“When you win like this, win groups, score the winning goal, it doesn’t get much better than that. You can see we move through the team and nothing is missed, everyone knows their position. and what they have to do,” Sabitzer said.

Malen’s misfortune came when he made his first start of the tournament in Germany, slipping to try to stop a cross from the left by Alexander Prais, but hitting it with so much force that the ball went past his own goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen. It has gone.

Malen should have compensated for his misfortune in the 23rd minute, but he misfired his effort, missing a perfect pass that split the Austrian defense with only keeper Patrick Pentz to beat.

Earlier, in the 14th minute, Tijani Rejenders had a chance to level the score, but his effort also went wide of the target after being set up by Gakpo.

Dutch concern over losing key midfield duels and regular turnovers of possession led to Joey Veerman being removed, replaced by Xavi Simmons, with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was jumping up and down from his bench with increasing irritation as Austria’s aggressive pressure forced his team into making several mistakes.

Austria could have been 2-0 up before the break as they caused the Dutch no end of problems. Verbruggen made a sharp save to block Marcel Sabitzer’s headed effort and then got a touch to deny Marko Arnautovic the chance in front of goal.

With Koeman’s anger still ringing in his ears after the half-time break, the Dutch went ahead as the second period began and Simmons drove the ball through the middle and passed to Gakpo.

Gakpo’s marker Philipp Lienhart gave him plenty of space and the attacker didn’t need a second invitation, placing the ball into the net with confidence.

But just as they were taking the lead, the Dutch were dealt another blow in the 59th minute when Florian Grillitsch backed away from the byline, setting up a header for the younger Schmidt, whose effort went wide of the goal but was deflected into the far corner. got help. Nets by Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij.

Pinch hitter Wout Weghorst made an immediate impact after coming on for Malen in the 72nd minute, setting up a close chance for Depay with his header.

Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzláč initially disallowed the goal, claiming that Depay had handled it, but VAR showed that this was not the case and awarded it after a two-minute check.

Parity lasted five minutes, however, before Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage, setting up the goal with a blast through the middle and then following through on his run to receive a return pass and score from a tight angle. Completed on time.

“If you beat the Netherlands and win the group, you can’t be that bad. For us, the most important thing was to move forward, and we managed to do that. Now we need to calm down, clear our mind and then continue to attack.” is needed,” Sabitzer said.

Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk said, “A very bad match in every respect.” “We started weak in possession and duels. Then you’re behind schedule. It was a bad evening.”