Euro 2024: Austria surprises the Netherlands and finishes first in Group D ahead of France

CNN
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Austria scored a stunning 3-2 win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024 to advance to the competition’s knockout stages at the top of Group D after France drew 1-1 against Poland.

It is the first time in history that Austria has finished first in their group at the European Championship, while the Netherlands also qualified for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Donyell Malen’s own goal gave Austria a deserved lead after just six minutes, but Cody Gakpo leveled the score two minutes into the second half.

Romano Schmid’s header gave Ralf Rangnick’s men the lead 12 minutes later, but the Orange bounced back again thanks to Memphis Depay’s brilliant improvised finish.

However, Austria were relentless and eventually scored what proved to be the winning goal when Marcel Sabitzer broke through the Dutch defense and finished smartly high into the roof of the net with just 10 minutes remaining.

France, meanwhile, took the lead over Poland after 10 minutes thanks to Kylian Mbappé’s penalty – the French superstar’s first ever goal in the European Championship.

Poland had the chance to equalize with their own penalty 10 minutes from time after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, but Robert Lewandowski saw his penalty saved by Mike Maignan.

However, VAR intervened again and ruled that Maignan had left his line, allowing the Barca striker to score from the second attempt.

The draw means France enter what is widely considered the tougher half of the round of 16, alongside Spain, Germany and Portugal.

The Netherlands were unconvincing in their first two group games, a late 2-1 win against Poland and a 0-0 draw against France.

After narrowly losing 1-0 to France in their first match, a much-improved Austria overwhelmed Poland with their high-intensity, fast-paced football in the second match and did the same again against the Netherlands in the first minutes of Tuesday’s match.

Austria were rewarded for their strong start by scoring after just five minutes when Dutch winger Malen turned the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out Marko Arnautović’s cross.

Rangnick’s men had been so dominant in the first 20 minutes that the fans started early, chanting “Olé” every time the team passed the ball.

It was a pleasant afternoon in sunny Berlin for the Austrian fans – less so for Malen.

The Dortmund striker wasted a brilliant chance to put his own goal away, but scuffed his effort wide of the post when he slotted home.

Arnautović could have doubled Austria’s lead 10 minutes before half-time when Sabitzer’s cross accidentally landed at his feet, but the Inter Milan striker failed to even make contact with the ball.

Austria had apparently been shocked Orange by surprise with his fast start and passed the ball with ease for long periods.

What coach Ronald Koeman, who looked frustrated throughout the first half, said to his players at the break had the desired effect.

The Netherlands started the second half as a completely different team and leveled the score moments after the restart as Gakpo brilliantly completed a blistering counter-attack, cutting in with his right foot and bending the ball into the far corner.

But the Dutch joy was short-lived – 12 minutes to be exact – as Schmid met Florian Grillitsch’s cross with a diving header to restore Austria’s lead.

Koeman chose to call on super-sub Wout Weghorst, who saved the score. Orange with a late winning goal against Poland and also with an equalizer against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

His presence made an almost immediate impact, directing the ball towards Depay who collected the ball brilliantly on his thigh and torso before launching an acrobatic volley past goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.

But once again the Dutch traded joy for despair, this time after just five minutes. The entire Dutch defense allowed Austrian captain Sabitzer to move freely into the box and shoot the ball over Bart Verbruggen.

After this huge victory, the entire Austrian team and backroom staff lined up arm in arm in front of thousands of fans at the Olympiastadion, sharing this historic moment together.

But while the Austrians will have the wind in their sails heading into the round of 16, Koeman and his Netherlands team have plenty of questions to answer.