The soccer ball is really round. Something that no one expected happened. The Netherlands lost points after being beaten by the “Ralph Rangnick sensation” Austria. In the final group match, the team instantly fell from first place to third place in the group.
The Netherlands lost 2-3 to Austria in the final Group D match of the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2024) at Olympia Stadion Berlin in Berlin, Germany, on the 26th (Korea time).
For the Netherlands, Cody Gakpo – Memphis Depay – Donial Malan Three-Top aimed at the Austrian net. Joey Feyrmann-Tijani Rheinders – Yerdi Schaughton played at the waist, and Nathan Ake – Virgil van Dijk – Stefan Duffrey – Lutzharl Haydrawida formed a defensive line. The goal was guarded by Bart Perbruheen.
For Austria, Marco Arnautovic aimed for an attack point on the one-top. Patric Bimmer-Marcel Javicher-Romano Schmidt played in the second line, while Florian Grillich and Nicholas Jaibald coordinated attacks and defenses in the third line. The back four was Alexander Fras-Philip Linhardt-Maximilian Boeber-Stephen Poche, and the goalkeeper’s gloves were worn by Patric Pents.
Perhaps, it was a “lucky day” for the Netherlands. With even a draw, the Netherlands was able to advance directly to the round of 16, so the Dutch players were able to play without burden. Austria also secured one point and advanced to the round of 16, so it did not have to overdo it.
However, the Dutch plan was twisted six minutes after the kick-off whistle. Malan tried to clear Fras’ cross from the left side, but it was sucked into the net and scored an own goal. It was a huge luck for Austria, but unexpected luck for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands had to attack for the equalizer. Malan, one of the three-top resources, received a killer pass from the Rheinders to create a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. It would have been nice to push it in calmly, but a left-footed shot went off the post and blew the equalizer opportunity.
The Netherlands had a critical chance but did not give up. This time, veteran striker DeFi aimed a cross with a header. However, he failed to aim precisely at the net again this time, swallowing regret.
The Netherlands, which had been pounding hard after an own goal in the first half, scored an equalizer in the second half. It calmly cut off the opponent’s ball in the second minute of the second half, and continued its organized counterattack pattern. Gakpo attempted a right-footed shot through Simmons’ pass, and was sucked into the Austrian net to balance the game.
After the equalizer, the Netherlands tried to pave the way for a come-from-behind victory, but failed again. Austria allowed some space on its side before losing a point. Grillich managed to save the ball that was about to break the goal line in the 14th minute of the second half and attempted a cross, and Schmidt finished it with a header inside the Dutch box to roar.
The flow of the game was a slugfest from the middle of the second half. DeFi, who failed to take advantage of a critical chance, finished Begorst’s pass with a sensational right footed shot in the 30th minute of the second half, and scored the equalizer. VAR was conducted due to the possibility of a handball foul, but there were no special problems, and the Netherlands scored the goal. 여우알바
The Netherlands only scored an equalizer, but lost a point in the end. It allowed Austria to score the net again after repeating its poor teamwork and lack of concentration. In the 36th minute of the second half, Xavicher received a pass from Baumgartner and shot in a “no sense” situation, but the net shook through goalkeeper Bart Perbrühchen.
It was a goal that poured cold water on the Netherlands, which wanted a draw, and the willingness to chase to overturn it. Austria’s offense was further ignited, and Baumgartner, who had accumulated assist, shook the net once more, but it was invalidated by offside.
The Netherlands did its best to secure the equalizer in extra time in the second half. However, it failed to sway the Austrian goal net, falling victim to a shocking upset. It ranked first in the group, but failed to secure points in the final match to fall to third in the group.
Although it fell to third place in the group, it made it to the round of 16. Four of the third-ranked teams in the group will advance to the tournament at Euro 2024. Although all rankings and records of the teams have yet to be determined, Slovenia and the Netherlands ranked the best among the third-ranked teams up to Group F.
