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Few had Austria down as likely winners of a Euro 2024 group that also included the might of France and the Netherlands, but Ralf Rangnick’s men stormed through to win their final two games and take their place in the knockouts. It’s their second visit to this stage but they’ve never gone further, suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat after extra-time to eventual winners Italy in 2021.
Das Team’s reward for topping Group B is a meeting with Turkey, a nation they hammered 6-1 in a friendly in March but haven’t beaten in a competitive fixture since November 1988 (D1, L4). But having just seen off the Netherlands 3-2, and only losing one of their last ten fixtures (W8, D1), Rangnick’s side probably won’t be dwelling on that historic H2H record for too long.
Turkey might be more inclined to draw inspiration from history as they try to find the sort of consistency needed to continue in the tournament. In the knockouts for the first time since 2008 - when Austria were co-hosts - their late winner against the Czech Republic (W 2-1) put the seal on second place in Group F which means they avoided Spain in the last 16.
Manager Vincenzo Montella, part of the Italy squad that reached the Euro 2000 final, subsequently praised his players for responding well to criticism he felt was undeserved following defeat to Portugal (L 3-0). But he’ll want to see even more progress following an up and down group stage (W2, L1), as the Crescent-Stars arrived at the Euros having won none of their previous five games (D2, L3) including that 6-1 H2H humbling in Vienna.
Players to watch: Christoph Baumgartner has scored in six of Austria’s last eight games, three times before the 15th minute, while Turkey will be hoping Cenk Tosun can continue a run of never losing an international in which he’s scored (W11, D3) after netting the winner against the Czech Republic.
Hot stat: Austria and Turkey have received a combined average of 4.33 yellow cards per game at this tournament.
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