Austria finishes in first place in Group D ahead of France after its crazy victory against the Netherlands

Not yet qualified before the match, Ralf Rangnick’s men dominated (3-2) the too fragile Oranje. The two teams reach the round of 16.

Austrians have thick skin. Announced as a potential surprise of the Euro but beaten by the Blues at the start (1-0), Austria finally validated its qualification for the direct elimination phase by dominating the Netherlands at the end of a spectacular match ( 3-2), Tuesday June 25, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin (Germany).

With six points and thanks to the draw (1-1) conceded by the French team against Poland, Ralf Rangnick’s men even claim first place in the group. The Netherlands are also qualified, in third place.

The first period was already pleasant, dominated by the Austrians (57% possession, seven shots) quickly ahead thanks to an own goal from Donyell Malen (6th), starting for the first time in this Euro. But the match really got excited in the last 45 minutes, with an equalizer returning from the locker room by Cody Gakpo (47th), concluding with a curling shot a counter-attack well led by Xavi Simons, who entered in the 35th minute to restart Orange too dull.

Romano Schmid gave Austria the advantage again with a diving header at the conclusion of a superb Austrian collective action (59th), while the Batavians were dominating more and more outrageously. Memphis Depay’s volley (75th) seemed to restore the balance of a match where each team had its period, but Marcel Sabitzer, author of a capital match, shot the Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle ten minutes from time. term (80th), when France conceded the equalizer, offering first place in the group to their team.

Already out of the same group in 2021 but eliminated in the round of 16, Austria and the Netherlands are doing at least as well this year. First in their group, the Austrians will face the second in group F, which could still be Turkey, the Czech Republic or Georgia, and avoid the most difficult part of the table with Portugal, Spain and Germany. Third, the Dutch will face the first in group E, the first in group C or Spain, who finished at the top of group B.