The sun beat down on the Olympiastadion in Berlin as tens of thousands of Austrians sang 'I Am From Austria' a cappella, accompanied by the voice of Alpine pop king Rainhard Fendrich. This national communion came in the wake of Austria's stunning 3-2 victory over the Netherlands, securing first place in Group D of Euro 2024 against all odds.
France and the Netherlands, the two powerhouses, were relegated to second and third place, respectively. This result means the Netherlands now face the daunting prospect of meeting Spain in the round of 16. The match was a rollercoaster, with the Dutch taking the lead early through Donyell Malen, only for Austria to equalize and then pull ahead.
The Dutch team, led by Ronald Koeman, initially set up to capitalize on Austrian mistakes using the speed of Malen and the ingenuity of Memphis Depay. However, Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, applied pressure with bravery and discipline, leading to a more organized and effective game plan.
Austria's Florian Grillitsch played a pivotal role in controlling the midfield, outshining his Dutch counterparts, Reinjdeers and Veerman. The Dutch defense struggled under pressure, resulting in an own goal by Malen early in the game. Despite equalizing twice through Gakpo and Depay, the Dutch could not withstand Austria's relentless attack.
Marcel Sabitzer was instrumental for Austria, delivering a decisive goal in the 79th minute after a well-timed pass from Baumbartner. This victory not only secured Austria's top spot in the group but also set them up to face either Turkey or the Czech Republic in the round of 16.
For the Netherlands, this loss is a significant setback. Despite a strong start in the tournament, their performance against Austria exposed vulnerabilities that could be exploited by stronger teams like Spain. The Dutch now await the results of the final group stage matches to determine their next opponent.
Austria's success in Euro 2024 marks their second qualification for the round of 16, following their 2021 performance where they were narrowly defeated by Italy. This time, with a solid defense and a cohesive team strategy, Austria looks poised to make a deeper run in the tournament.
- The match saw several key moments, including an early own goal by Dutch player Donyell Malen, which set the tone for Austria's aggressive play. Despite the Dutch equalizing twice, Austria's tactical discipline and effective midfield control ultimately led to their victory.
- Ronald Koeman's decision to substitute Joey Veerman for Xavi Simons brought some balance to the Dutch side, but it was not enough to overcome Austria's relentless pressure. The Dutch defense, particularly Nathan Aké, struggled to contain Austria's forwards, leading to crucial goals by Schmid and Sabitzer.
- Austria's victory is a testament to Ralf Rangnick's coaching, which emphasized pressing high and maintaining discipline under pressure. This strategy paid off, as Austria capitalized on Dutch mistakes and maintained control of the game.
- The result of this match has significant implications for the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Austria's first-place finish in Group D allows them to avoid stronger teams like Spain in the round of 16, while the Netherlands face a tougher path forward.
