The UEFA Euro 2024 witnessed another upset yesterday, July 2nd, as Turkey edged past Austria 2-1 in an action-filled game at Leipzig Stadium. It certainly was a game touted to go either way, but the former ended up on top following commanding displays for most of the first half and some resolute defending for most of the second.
Demiral Brace Sees Turkey Take Control In Euro 2024
From the off, Turkey came out with a real intent. The visitors were in raptures as early as the first minute when Juventus central defender Merih Demiral came highest on the leap to glance inside a corner. This poor start saw the Austrians knocked off their balance and failing to get a grip on things throughout the first half.
A yellow card shown to Austria’s Stefan Lainer in the 10th minute only did a little for their case—it was a cynical foul on Burak Yılmaz. The pressure did not stop, and Turkey finally reaped rewards for the hustle in the 60th minute. Demiral found himself at the heart of action again, this time capitalizing upon a defensive lapse to slot the ball past Heinz Lindner and into the Austrian goal.
Austria Fights Back, But It’s Not Enough
The Austrians really needed to mount some kind of second-half response, which they did to a degree in the 68th minute. From outside the area, a somewhat powerful strike was let out by Marcel Sabitzer, who rattled the crossbar. That near miss did seem to finally inject life into the Austrian attack.
It was again two minutes after that a foul on Marko Arnautović inside the penalty area created another lifeline for Austria. Arnautović himself took the spot-kick, sending Ugurcan Çakir, the shot-stopper of Turkey, the wrong way. The goal brought this passionate Austrian crowd back into the game, with the atmosphere in the stadium turning electric.
Turkey Holds On for Dramatic Victory
The Austrians continued to search for an equalizing goal, and in the 82nd minute, a header by Michael Gregoritsch came very near to nailing one. But Turkey’s defense, impressively marshaled by single-handed Caglar Soyuncu, stayed firm. A little later, into the final minutes of the game, came a yellow card for the tactical foul by Turkey’s Ozan Kabak, but it was a minor footnote as the final whistle blew.
Talking Points: Demiral the Hero as Austria Fumbles Chances
The game will forever be remembered with fragments of Merih Demiral. His two goals made the difference between the two teams, and his presence in the air throughout the game turned into a continuous threat for the Austrian defense.
For Austria, the missed opportunities in this second half will be a source of frustration. They showed moments of attacking flair but lacked that clinical edge in front of goal to break down an obdurate Turkish defense.
What’s Next for Austria and Turkey In Euro 2024?
The win by Turkey sets up a thrilling quarter-final confrontation with the winner of tonight’s match between France and Denmark. This is a clear step to the forefront for the national team of Turkey, who will try to get through to the semifinals of Euro for the very first time in their history.
Thus, Austria’s Euro 2024 journey comes to an end. The team will, however, take solace in the performance all through the tournament, topping their group ahead of France. They will now turn their attention to qualifying for the next World Cup.