Football

Turkey and the Netherlands have secured their places in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after thrilling victories in the round of 16.Turkey, who last reached the last eight of a European Championship in 2008, stunned Austria 2-1 in a pulsating encounter in Leipzig. Merih Demiral emerged as the unlikely hero for Turkey, scoring a stunning header just before the hour mark to seal the victory. The Al-Ahli defender had earlier given his team a dream start by bundling the ball home in the opening minute.Austria, who were also making their first appearance in the knockout stages of a major tournament since 2008, fought valiantly but were unable to find an equalizer despite dominating possession for much of the second half. Michael Gregoritsch halved the deficit shortly after Demiral's second goal, but Christoph Baumgartner's late effort was denied by an incredible save from Mert Gunok.In the other quarter-final, the Netherlands eased past Romania 3-0 in Munich. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Dutch in the 20th minute, before Donyell Malen added a brace in the second half. The victory was a welcome boost for Ronald Koeman's side, who had come under fire after their disappointing performance in the group stage.Turkey will now face the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday, while the winner of that match will play either England or Switzerland in the semi-finals.

Austria's relentless determination and tactical brilliance propelled them to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in Berlin, securing their place atop Group D in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The victory sends shockwaves through the tournament, as Austria emerges as a formidable contender, leaving behind tournament favorites France and the Netherlands.Ralf Rangnick's Austria showcased their attacking prowess and defensive resilience, dictating the tempo of the match from the outset. Donyell Malen's unfortunate own goal gave Austria an early lead, but Cody Gakpo's equalizer in the second half threatened to derail their momentum. However, Romano Schmid's header restored Austria's advantage, and Memphis Depay's equalizer set the stage for a frantic finish.In the end, it was Marcel Sabitzer's clinical strike that sealed the victory for Austria. The Netherlands, despite introducing Wout Weghorst as a late substitute, failed to find an equalizer, leaving them in third place in the group.Austria's victory is a testament to Rangnick's tactical acumen and the team's unwavering belief. They have proven to be a force to be reckoned with, and their performance in Berlin has sent a clear message to the rest of the tournament contenders.

The Netherlands and Austria face off in a crucial Group D clash at Euro 2024, with both teams vying for top spot. The Dutch, who have finished first in their groups at the past two major tournaments, are looking to secure a place in the knockout phase with a victory. However, Austria, who impressed in their 3-1 win over Poland, could also qualify for the last 16 with a positive result.Dutch coach Ronald Koeman has admitted that his side was "not up to scratch" in their goalless draw with France, but a win against Austria would wrap up top spot in the group, provided France do not win by a bigger margin in their simultaneous final game against Poland.Despite a promising start to the campaign, there has been debate back home about the make-up of the Dutch team. Memphis Depay, who struggled up front against France, has faced criticism, while there have been calls for Wout Weghorst to be given a start after he came off the bench to score the winner in the Netherlands' opening game against Poland.Austria, meanwhile, will likely go through with a point as one of the best third-placed teams but could also still finish first with a win, if France fail to beat Poland. Touted as one of the dark horses for the tournament, Ralf Rangnick's men impressed in their victory over Poland and will be looking to guarantee a top-two finish with a positive result against the Netherlands.Austria made the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time since 1954 three years ago, when they gave eventual Euros winners Italy a fright in the last 16 before losing in extra time. They have never reached the quarter-finals at a European Championship."Somehow it is nice to be called that (dark horses)," said Christoph Baumgartner, who scored the crucial goal which put Austria 2-1 ahead against Poland. "We won against Germany in the build-up, we had a really good period in the last few weeks and months, and then people start to think big quite quickly.""But we as a team always knew how to assess the situation. We knew against France we weren't at our maximum. We know if we reach our best level we can beat a lot of nations."

Poland vs Austria: Lewandowski's Return Boosts Poland's Euro 2024 HopesPoland will be hoping to reignite their Euro 2024 campaign when they face Austria in a crucial Group D clash on Friday, June 21. Both teams suffered narrow defeats in their opening matches, leaving them in need of a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.Poland's hopes have been boosted by the potential return of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed the opening game against the Netherlands due to a shoulder injury. Lewandowski's presence would provide a significant attacking threat for Poland, who struggled to create chances in his absence.Austria, meanwhile, will be confident of causing an upset after holding world champions France for large parts of their opening game. However, they will need to be more clinical in front of goal, having failed to convert several promising opportunities against France.The match will be played at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, with kick-off scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. It will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Key Details:* Date: Friday, June 21 (IST)* Venue: Olympiastadion, Berlin* Kick-off: 9:30 PM IST* TV Channels: Sony Sports Network* Live Streaming: SonyLiv app and website

France celebrated a milestone victory as they secured a 1-0 triumph over Austria in their Euro 2024 opener, marking manager Didier Deschamps' 100th win at the helm. However, the victory was marred by an injury to star forward Kylian Mbappe.France's dominance was evident from the outset, with Mbappe's dazzling dribbling and incisive passing causing constant problems for the Austrian defense. In the 38th minute, Mbappe's brilliance paid off as he danced past three defenders and delivered a pinpoint cross that forced Austria's Max Wober to inadvertently head the ball into his own net.Despite their early advantage, France struggled to maintain their momentum. Austria's relentless high-pressing and aggressive tackling kept them in the contest, and they nearly took the lead before France's goal when Marcel Sabitzer's cross found Christoph Baumgartner, whose shot was deflected wide.After the interval, France regained some control, with Marcus Thuram forcing a fine save from Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz. However, the Austrians remained resolute, and their passionate fans roared them on until the final whistle.Mbappe's night took a sour turn late on when he collided with Austria's Patrick Pentz, resulting in a suspected broken nose. The incident left Mbappe bloodied and bruised, and he was eventually substituted with a yellow card for sitting down on the pitch after receiving treatment.Despite the injury to their talisman, France held on for the victory, thanks in no small part to the masterful performance of N'Golo Kante in midfield. The returning midfielder justified his recall to the squad with a dominant display, breaking up Austria's attacks and providing a solid foundation for his team.France now join the Netherlands on three points after the Dutch beat Poland 2-1 on Sunday. They will face the Netherlands in their next match, while Austria will take on Poland in a bid to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.