This at all times promised to be one of many extra frenetic nights at Euro 2024 — and Austria vs Turkey didn’t disappoint.
A dramatic begin. which noticed Turkey take the lead inside a minute, relentless attacking, a miraculous late save and a feisty environment — often effervescent over into one thing extra sinister — made for a compelling last-16 match. Finally, Turkey did sufficient to safe a quarter-final in opposition to the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday evening.
Our consultants debate the large speaking factors.
How did Gunok pull off that save?
Turkey are liable for the worst goalkeeping gaffe of this European Championship to date — and now they’ve made the best save of the event too.
It was backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir who made the error in permitting a daft personal objective within the second group match in opposition to Portugal. Right here, first-choice Mert Gunok produced an astonishing reflex save from Christoph Baumgartner’s header within the ultimate seconds of the sport, leaping full stretch to forestall his goalbound header bouncing into the nook of the web.
UK readers, watch right here:
Austria got here desperately near equalising with seconds left on the clock but it surely was all too late 🫣#Euro2024 | #AUTTUR pic.twitter.com/WMB3jLPM0P
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) July 2, 2024
US readers, watch right here:
This ninety fifth minute save by Mert Günok was UNREAL 😱🔥
Türkiye followers will not neglect this one 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/nLzM5Pa8Yy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2024
Usually it’s the shedding crew who fall to the ground on the finish of a knockout-stage match, however such was the power they exerted in conserving Austria at bay, it was the Turkish gamers who, to a person, sank to the turf in aid and exhaustion.
They’re actually shock quarter-finalists however given they’re within the weaker half of the draw, who is aware of the place this momentum can take them — notably as they’re successfully host nation Germany’s second crew, such is their degree of vociferous assist.
Tim Spiers
How had been Austria caught chilly in record-breaking vogue?
Austria are recognized for his or her quick begins (a trademark Ralf Rangnick trait) — they scored within the first 10 minutes of their wins over Poland and the Netherlands through the group stage, whereas again in March they scored the quickest objective within the historical past of worldwide soccer simply six seconds right into a pleasant in opposition to Slovakia.
In that very same worldwide break, they walloped Turkey 6-1, all of which pointed to there being an honest likelihood of Austria taking an early lead tonight in Leipzig.
As an alternative, after simply 57 seconds, they contrived to reward Turkey the tie’s opening objective with some slapstick defending.
An inswinging Arda Guler nook directed beneath the crossbar was missed by Kevin Danso…
…Baumgartner had drifted again onto the road, however as a substitute of clearing the ball, he allowed it to merely bounce off him.
Goalkeeper Patrick Pentz, most likely acutely aware of choosing the factor up in case it was deemed a again go, was feeling equally as dozy and contrived to softly palm it again out into the six-yard field…
…no different Austrian reacted in time, so Merih Demiral had no drawback slamming a shot into the roof of the web from shut vary.
Three huge particular person errors within the house of a second. Austria paid an expensive worth for not being switched on and now have an undesirable place in historical past, having conceded the fastest-ever objective within the knockout stage of a European Championship.
It additionally maintained the unusual of early objectives at this event: 4 of the six quickest ever scored at a Euros have come this summer season.
Quickest objectives at European Championships
Scorer |
Time |
Crew |
Match |
Nedim Bajrami |
23secs |
Albania |
Euro 2024 |
Merih Demiral |
57secs |
Turkey |
Euro 2024 |
Dmitri Kirichenko |
1min 5secs |
Russia |
Euro 2004 |
Youri Tielemans |
1min 13secs |
Belgium |
Euro 2024 |
Emil Forsberg |
1min 22secs |
Sweden |
Euro 2020 |
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
1min 32secs |
Georgia |
Euro 2024 |
Tim Spiers
Gamers face deluge of missiles
Within the second half, there was a difficulty with supporters throwing plastic cups onto the pitch — not for the primary time this event.
Earlier than taking his nook that noticed Turkey double their lead, Arda Guler had cups launched at him by Austria supporters. After his cross was met by Merih Demiral for his and their second objective, Guler turned to the group and cupped his ear.
A waterfall of beer was then aimed in his route.
Ten minutes later, Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer went down having been hit on the aspect of the pinnacle by what gave the impression to be a coin hurled from the stands. This led to Turkey’s Salih Ozcan going over and pleading together with his crew’s followers to relax.
Earlier within the event, England head coach Gareth Southgate had a handful of plastic cups thrown at him following their drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia within the group stage.
Tom Burrows
Frenetic tempo, thrilling chaos
It may be difficult to reliably quantify the velocity of a soccer match, however Austria’s conflict with Turkey was arguably probably the most frenetic begin to a recreation throughout this event to date.
There was Merih Demiral’s objective after 57 seconds, after all, but it surely wasn’t simply the objective that set this recreation alight. Austria have been the poster boys for prime power and excessive urgent on this event — it’s their factor — however Turkey matched that strategy with their very own relentless work price, crashing into early challenges and forcing the Austrians into additional errors throughout the opening 20 minutes.
Turkey had been concerned in arguably one of the best recreation of the group stage in opposition to Georgia, which was itself a ferocious contest. Vincenzo Montella’s aspect introduced that very same ardour to Leipzig tonight, with extra motion in each containers after half an hour than in the entire of Monday evening’s tie between Portugal and Slovenia (which went to penalties).
Austria beat Turkey 6-1 in a pleasant in March, and the opening to this recreation seemed like Turkey had gone full Michael Jordan — they took that personally.
Jordan would have been proud, provided that this back-and-forth contest resembled a basketball recreation at instances. It was a breathless begin and the tempo barely relented after that.
It was chaotic — all of the extra so within the second half, when the rain began to teem down and Portuguese referee Artur Soares Dias insisted on letting play movement wherever doable — however thrilling as effectively.
Mark Carey
Guler’s supreme set items
Arda Guler, the supremely proficient teenager, is hailed because the ‘Turkish Messi’ in his homeland — and his performances to date at Euro 2024 will solely add to the hype.
A technically gifted participant, with fantastic poise, steadiness and a lethal left foot, the Actual Madrid ahead was a relentless menace for Austria floating in the course of a entrance three. Nevertheless it was his pinpoint accuracy from corners that was Austria’s undoing. In a frenetic begin to the match, Guler whipped in a nook that was bundled residence by defender Merih Demiral following comedic Austrian defending after simply 57 seconds.
Halfway by means of the primary half, Guler produced one other wonderful likelihood from a nook that was nearly headed residence by Demiral for his second of the sport, however Turkey’s frustration didn’t final lengthy. Because the clock ticked to the hour mark, Guler swung in one other excellent supply that was once more met by Demiral, rising brilliantly within the penalty space, for his second objective of the evening.
There’s rather more to Guler’s recreation than simply set-piece supply however it’s nonetheless a potent weapon for this Turkey crew.
Tom Burrows
How Montella defied Rangnick’s press
Anticipating Austria to play with the high-pressing, front-footed model that they do, Turkey arrange excellently to keep away from falling into Ralf Rangnick’s entice.
Their resolution? Take no probabilities and bypass the press with longer balls in build-up. At instances when Austria edged ahead — able to pounce when a team-mate triggered the press — Turkey rolled out a drilled ball to Arda Guler between the traces, or to right-back Mert Mulder to contest a header close to the touchline.
Simply taking a look at goalkeeper Mert Gunok’s go map throughout the entire recreation, you may see that this was a transparent tactic when enjoying out from the again.
What was clever about Turkey’s strategy was that it allowed them to subsequently combine their passing up. When Austria subsequently sat off, anticipating extra lengthy balls from Turkey’s deeper gamers, Vincenzo Montella’s aspect then calmed their passing down and labored by means of the thirds with direct, intricate passing.
Austria had been much less in a position to successfully implement their model as a result of Turkey didn’t permit them to.
As Turkey progress to the quarter-finals of a European Championship for simply the third time, they’ve proven they are often tactically versatile in addition to passion-filled and high-octane.
Selection actually is the spice of life for the Turkish.
Mark Carey
What was the response?
Ralf Rangnick, Austria supervisor: “The 4 video games we performed had been very entertaining, together with at this time. Not the whole lot went very precisely, however they had been 4 very entertaining and intense video games. Now we have to take this with us into the Nations League (within the autumn) after which into World Cup qualifying (beginning in March). I can’t imagine we’re going residence at this time, we thought we had been going to proceed our journey.”
Mert Gunok, Turkey goalkeeper: “We nonetheless have a protracted technique to go, if it’s God’s will, we’ll go to the very finish. We imagine this. This win took us to the following degree by way of morale and confidence.”
Really helpful studying
(Prime picture: John Macdougall/AFP through Getty Photos)