Poland turned the primary nation to be knocked out of Euro 2024 following a 3-1 defeat to Austria.
Targets from Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner and Marko Arnautovic sealed a powerful win for Ralf Rangnick’s aspect in Berlin, which left their opponents with two defeats from their first two Group D fixtures.
And on account of the goalless draw between the Netherlands and France in a while within the night, Poland exited the competitors with one sport to spare.
Austria began the sport at breakneck pace and their aggressive attacking strategy paid off inside 10 minutes, when Philipp Mwene clipped a cross to the close to publish, the place Trauner leapt to information in an aesthetic header.
The depth waned because the half went on, permitting Poland to start to mount a comeback; Nicola Zalewski rushed a shot over the bar, earlier than Philipp Lienhart diverted a shot from Piotr Zielinski away after which bravely put his head in the best way of a cross to the close to publish from Przemyslaw Frankowski.
On the half-hour, they had been again in it. A cross from the left introduced a component of panic to the penalty space and, after Jan Bednarek’s shot was blocked by Trauner, Krzysztof Piatek seized management and tucked dwelling the equaliser.
The Polish contingent within the stands obtained a raise when talisman Robert Lewandowski was launched with half an hour to play, however Austria had been quickly in entrance once more; Alexander Prass’ sweeping go was dummied by Arnautovic and completed by Baumgartner.
It was job accomplished after 78 minutes when Marcel Sabitzer was clumsily introduced down by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny within the field, which allowed ex-Stoke and West Ham frontman Arnautovic to complete coolly, make sure that of the factors and kick-start Austria’s Euro 2024 marketing campaign.
Stats: Story of the match
Evaluation – Superb Austria are ones to look at
Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:
Austria had a spot in lots of analysts’ Euro 2024 ‘darkish horses’ picks. You’ll be able to positively see why after their newest show.
Ralf Rangnick’s aspect picked up their first win towards Poland however did so in a really engaging fashion.
Full-backs Stefan Posch and Philipp Mwene had been arguably their greatest sources of assault. Sitting midfielders Nicolas Seiwald and Konrad Laimer generated a few of their greatest probabilities of the sport. Poland’s defence couldn’t take care of Christoph Baumgartner and Marcel Sabitzer’s operating and work within the half areas.
Now Austria stand getting ready to the knockout rounds and face an enormous sport towards the Netherlands to seal their place.
Getting second place might be essential because it might be England within the first knockout spherical in the event that they end third. However how each groups are taking part in, would that be so unhealthy?
