Ought to Austria be taken significantly as European Championship-winning materials? They emerged from one of many group stage’s most entertaining video games with three factors and, firmly towards the chances, prime spot in a fiendish Group D. They have been handed a head begin by Donyell Malen’s personal aim however maybe probably the most spectacular side of one other high-octane efficiency was the way in which Ralf Rangnick’s workforce simply stored coming.
They have been pegged again by Cody Gakpo after which, after Romano Schmid’s response, once more by Memphis Delay. However Marcel Sabitzer’s winner, which may change the form of this competitors, means they are going to most likely face Turkey or Czech Republic in Leipzig on Saturday. For the third-placed Netherlands, artistic however huge open in defence, a gathering with England shouldn’t be out of the query.
Rangnick had made 4 modifications to his lineup: maybe he was aware of a excessive yellow card tally amongst his squad, there was probably the matter of sustaining Austria’s trademark power in 26C warmth. They have been roughly assured of progress on the outset, solely a heavy defeat more likely to knock them out of the most effective third-place finishers.
However they wished extra and, within the sixth minute it got here. Austria had swamped the Netherlands from kick-off, tenting of their half and popping the ball round crisply. Their left-back Alexander Prass had already threatened in superior positions twice and struck gold on the third. This time he swept a cross in direction of Marko Arnautovic that Malen, careering in on the stretch to intervene, hammered inside Bart Verbruggen’s close to submit.
It was actually a ahead’s end from Malen. In equity he had proven a hearty urge for food to trace again however, in giving him a primary begin of the match, Ronald Koeman had presumably anticipated his items to manifest themselves on the different finish. Halfway by way of the half got here an ideal probability to atone, Memphis Depay sending him behind an Austrian again line that didn’t look particularly tight. Malen solely needed to choose his spot past an advancing Patrick Pentz however scuffed horribly huge.
9 minutes beforehand, Tijjani Reijnders had produced a equally poor end when Gakpo laid the opening on a plate. It was not as if the Netherlands, responding nicely to the early setback, seemed incapable of scoring. However issues drifted sufficiently that, with the interval in view, Koeman launched the short toes of Xavi Simons in Joey Veerman’s place.
Austria’s menace had dimmed: they have been now conceding niggly fouls and a reserving for considered one of them, by the fast winger Patrick Wimmer, will deliver a second-round suspension they may do with out. This had, although, turn out to be a sport notable for spurts of explosive power from each protagonists. Sabitzer noticed Verbruggen parry a 20-yard fizzer and, given a second chew, his second effort deflected into the trail of Arnautovic. Any critical contact would have put Austria two up, however he miskicked at knee top.
That aberration was made to look expensive simply over a minute into the second half. Simons’ pace got here into his personal as he shuttled by way of an absent midfield after the Netherlands right-back Lutsharel Geertruida had gained possession inside his personal half. Austria had too many gamers dedicated and Simons may choose his second to feed Gakpo to the left. The end, utilized right-footed round Pentz from 12 yards after a cushioned first contact, was immaculate.
A Virgil van Dijk header skipped simply over off Maximilian Wober quickly afterwards and the Netherlands, a higher-tempo proposition now, have been making their high quality inform for the primary time. Stefan de Vrij glanced huge from a free-kick and Austria, at that time, have been being outdone at their very own sport.
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So Schmid’s aim had not remotely been signposted. Austria had made floor down the left by way of Wimmer and, for the primary time for the reason that break, have been asking a query. Finally Sabitzer performed Florian Grillitsch in on the byline and the ensuing cross, stood up deliciously, was bulleted in by a diving Schmid regardless of De Vrij’s efforts on the road.
It had come from nothing, however what a potent reminder Austria had supplied that no person can sleep on their menace. The Netherlands seemed to reinforce theirs, giving the group what they’d been calling for when Wout Weghorst changed the luckless Malen, and subsequently squared issues up once more.
Weghorst’s presence paid dividends, the battering ram monstering Wober within the air and leaving the centre-back sprawling. Depay, controlling and ending instantaneously, noticed his celebrations lower quick attributable to an obvious handball however a VAR examine discovered no such error. Maybe, this time, the Netherlands had a platform for the win.
As a substitute the substitute Christoph Baumgartner slid Sabitzer by way of and, from a good left-sided angle, he thrashed previous Verbruggen. Austria are on the march.
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