Marcel Sabitzer scored Austria a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday to put his team top of the table Euro Group D of 2024, ahead of favorites France and third-placed Dutch. All three countries are through to the round of 16, but Ralf Rangnick’s intense Austrian team showed why some consider them underdogs by winning the tournament for the first time on an entertaining afternoon in Berlin. An own goal from Donyell Malen put Austria ahead, but Cody Gakpo leveled the Netherlands early in the second half. Romano Schmid returned home to Austria, with Memphis Depay rallying them once again, before Sabitzer settled the frantic end-to-end contest.
Rangnick made four changes for Austria from the team that eliminated Poland, with defender Gernot Trauner, who scored in that victory, injured, while Christoph Baumgartner also scored and was left on the bench.
Meanwhile, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman selected Malen in attack as one of three changes from the goalless draw against France last week.
The Borussia Dortmund forward got off to an unfortunate start when he slid to deflect Alexander Prass’ cross into his own net as he tried to stop the goal from reaching Marko Arnautovic.
Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders had a good chance to equalize quickly, shooting wide after a fine exchange with Gakpo.
Dutch fans lit up the tournament with their vibrant orange glow, but Austrian fans outnumbered them and chanted in Berlin.
As Rangnick’s men passed the ball around their Dutch counterparts, the fans happily applauded each successful pass.
Koeman seethed on the touchline and lowered his arms in frustration when Malen shot beyond the far post when well placed.
The former Barcelona manager brought on Xavi Simons in the 34th minute to replace midfielder Joey Veerman, to add more spark and creativity to his team’s disjointed display.
However, it was Austria who created the next big chance, with Bart Verbruggen saving Sabitzer’s shot and Arnautovic unable to find the footwork to score from close range moments later as his side kept the move alive.
The Netherlands entered the second half lively and equalized in the 47th minute, when Simons served Gakpo, who finished safely past Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.
Austria kept their head and Schmid scored again in the 59th minute after a Florian Grillitsch cross, with Stefan de Vrij unable to clear the ball over the line.
The goal sucked the life out of the Netherlands, who turned to their super substitute against Poland and in the 2022 World Cup against Argentina, the burly assassin Wout Weghorst, to put their plan B into action.
It worked almost immediately, with the striker motioning for Depay to hit and raise the level of the game.
Austria scored again and went ahead for a third time when Sabitzer superbly hit the near post after Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk had set him up.
Substitute Baumgartner finished well for what would have been Austria’s fourth goal, but he was offside and Weghorst headed in a last chance for the dejected Dutch.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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