Euro 2024: Austria beat Netherlands to top Group D ahead of France


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Austria defeated the Netherlands to top Group D.



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Austria qualified for the knockout stage of the Euro 2024 competition by topping Group D with a stunning 3-2 win over the Netherlands, while France drew 1-1 with Poland.

It is the first time in history that Austria have topped their group at the European Championship, while the Netherlands have also booked their place in the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Donyell Malen's own goal gave Austria the lead after just six minutes but Cody Gakpo equalised two minutes into the second half.

Romano Schmid's header gave Ralf Rangnick's side the lead after 12 minutes, but Orange The team came back thanks to a brilliantly improved finish from Memphis Depay.

However, Austria kept trying and eventually found the winning goal when Marcel Sabitzer broke through the Dutch defence to score just 10 minutes before the end of the match.

Meanwhile, France took the lead over Poland thanks to Kylian Mbappe's penalty goal in the 10th minute of the second half – it was the French superstar's first European Championship goal.

Poland had a chance to equalise with a penalty 10 minutes before the end of the match after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, but Robert Lewandowski's penalty was saved by Mike Maignan.

However, VAR again intervened and ruled that Maignan had stepped off his line, allowing the Barca forward to score at the second attempt.

The draw means France move into what is considered the more difficult part of the knockout bracket, along with Spain, Germany and Portugal.

Leon Kuegeler/Reuters

Mbappe put France ahead by scoring a penalty.

The Netherlands did not perform well in their first two group matches, winning 2–1 over Poland and drawing 0–0 with France.

After losing narrowly 1-0 to France in their opener, a much-improved Austria demolished Poland with their sharp, fast-paced football in their second match and did the same against the Netherlands in the opening minutes of Tuesday's match.

Austria were rewarded for their bright start with a goal just five minutes later when Netherlands winger Malen put the ball into his own net while attempting to intercept Marko Arnautovic's cross.

Rangnick's side were so dominant in the opening 20 minutes that fans began chanting “Ole” whenever the team passed the ball.

It was proving to be an enjoyable afternoon in the Berlin sunshine for Austria's fans – but not so much for Malen.

The Dortmund forward missed a great opportunity to make up for his own goal but as he headed towards goal, his effort went wide of the post.

Arnautovic should have doubled Austria's lead 10 minutes before halftime when Sabitzer's cross luckily landed at his feet but the Inter Milan forward failed to even make contact with the ball.

John McDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Gakpo gave Netherlands a quick start in the second half.

Austria was clearly shaken Orange Surprised everyone with his fast start and kept passing the ball with ease for long periods.

What manager Ronald Koeman, who looked frustrated in the first period, said to his players at the break had the desired effect.

The Netherlands started the second half like a different team and equalised moments after the restart as Gakpo finished off a powerful counter-attack brilliantly, cutting in on his right foot and curling the ball into the far corner.

But the Dutch joy didn't last long – on 12 minutes to be exact – as Schmid gave Austria the lead back with a diving header from Florian Grillitsch's cross.

Koeman opted to bring on super-sub Wout Weghorst, who Orange Including a last-minute win over Poland and an equaliser against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

His presence made an almost immediate impact, as he laid the ball off to Depay, who took the ball superbly on his thigh and torso before acrobatically beating goalkeeper Patrick Pentz to score.

Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Sabitzer celebrates his winning goal.

But once again the Dutch turned joy into despair, this time after just five minutes. The Dutch defence folded, allowing Austria captain Sabitzer to roam freely in the box and hit the ball over Bart Verbruggen.

After this huge win, the entire Austria team and backroom staff held each other's hands in front of thousands of fans inside the Olympiastadion and shared this historic moment together.

But while the Austrian side will be looking good to advance to the knockout stage, Koeman and his Netherlands side have plenty of questions to answer.


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