Austria’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Netherlands propels them to the top of Group D in Euro 2024. Find out how this thrilling match unfolded and what’s next for both teams.
Germany, Bollywood Fever: Austria’s aggressive and hard-running approach propelled them into the last-16 of the European Championship on Tuesday. A thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands not only saw them progress but also snatch first place in Group D.
Despite giving away an early own goal, the Dutch also advanced as one of the four best third-placed finishers. Their lackluster first-half performance was overshadowed by Marcel Sabitzer’s decisive goal for Austria ten minutes from time.
France’s 1-1 draw with Poland in the group’s other game in Dortmund left Austria topping the table with six points, one ahead of second-placed France on five and the Dutch with four points.
Austria took a surprising lead at the Olympiastadion when Donyell Malen turned the ball into his own net six minutes into the contest, but Cody Gakpo equalized soon after the break. Romano Schmid put Austria ahead again just before the hour, with Memphis Depay equalizing in the 75th minute.
Sabitzer’s late goal capped a determined showing from Ralf Rangnick’s side, emerging as the surprise winners of a group where standings fluctuated throughout the match. Austria will next face the Group F runners-up, to be decided on Wednesday, while France and the Netherlands await their last-16 opponents.
“When you win like that, win the group, score the winning goal, it doesn’t get any better than that. You can see that we rotate through the team and nothing is missed, everyone knows their position and what they have to do,” said Sabitzer.
Malen’s misfortune came as he made his first start at the tournament in Germany, sliding in to try and intercept a cross from the left by Alexander Prass but hitting it with such force that the ball rocketed past his own goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Malen should have redeemed himself in the 23rd minute but missed a perfect pass that split the Austria defense, sending his effort wide with only keeper Patrick Pentz to beat. Concerns over losing key midfield duels led to Joey Veerman being replaced by Xavi Simons ten minutes before the break.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman expressed frustration as Austria’s aggressive pressing caused multiple errors from his team. Austria could have been 2-0 up before halftime, with Verbruggen making a sharp save to stop Sabitzer’s stinging effort and then denying Marko Arnautovic.
The Dutch surged forward after the break, with Simons driving the ball through the middle and passing to Gakpo, who curled the ball into the net with ease after his marker Philipp Lienhart gave him too much space.
But just as they gained the upper hand, the Dutch were stung again in the 59th minute. Florian Grillitsch’s pullback set up a header for the diminutive Schmid, whose effort was redirected into the net by Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij.
Substitute Wout Weghorst made an immediate impact after coming on for Malen in the 72nd minute, setting up a close-range chance for Depay. Initially ruled out for handball, the goal was awarded after a two-minute VAR check.
Parity lasted only five minutes before Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage, breaking through the middle and timing his run perfectly to receive a return pass and thunder home from a tight angle.
“If you beat the Netherlands and win the group, then you can’t be that bad. For us, the most important thing was to advance, and we managed that. Now we need to calm down, clear our heads and then keep attacking,” added Sabitzer.
“A very bad match, in all respects,” said Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk. “We started weakly in possession and in duels. Then you are behind the times. It was a bad evening.”
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