Austria shocked the football world with their aggressive and hard-running approach as they secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands to advance to the last-16 of the European Championship. The win also saw them claim the top spot in Group D. The Dutch also progressed to the next round as one of the four best third-placed finishers, despite facing an early own goal and a lackluster first-half performance.
With an early lead thanks to a Donyell Malen own goal, Austria found themselves level after Cody Gakpo equalized soon after the break. Romano Schmid then put Austria ahead again just before the hour mark, only for Memphis Depay to score the equalizer in the 75th minute. Marcel Sabitzer’s goal 10 minutes from time secured the victory for Austria and saw them finish at the top of the group with six points.
Despite the loss, the Netherlands also advanced to the knockout stage with four points, as France was held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in the group’s other game. The final group standings were up in the air throughout the match, with positions changing multiple times. Austria will now face the Group F runners-up in the next round, while France and the Netherlands await the identity of their last-16 opponents.
The match saw Malen scoring an own goal in his first start at the tournament, setting the tone for Austria’s surprising victory. Despite a missed opportunity to equalize, the Dutch struggled to maintain possession and lost key midfield battles. Austria’s aggressive pressing and relentless energy forced multiple errors out of the Dutch, frustrating coach Ronald Koeman on the sidelines.
Austria’s dominant performance could have seen them ahead by multiple goals at halftime, with Verbruggen making crucial saves to deny Sabitzer and Arnautovic. The Dutch equalized early in the second half through Gakpo, only to concede again as Schmid put Austria back in front. Depay’s goal, initially ruled out for handball but later awarded after VAR intervention, briefly leveled the score before Sabitzer’s match-winning strike sealed the victory for Austria.
The result was a testament to Austria’s determination and tactical discipline, with Ralf Rangnick’s side showcasing their quality against a formidable Dutch team. The win not only secured their place in the next round but also announced Austria as potential dark horses in the tournament. With momentum on their side, Austria will look to build on this victory as they prepare to face tough competition in the knockout stages of the European Championship.
