BERLIN, GERMANY (SMI-GLOBAL-SPORTS-UEFA EURO-2024, JUNE 14-JULY 14, 2024)-World#25(FIFA) Austria triumphs over #7, Netherlands 3-2, to finish first with 6-points in Group D, stunning the favorites France & the Dutch team in the tournament, advances to the knockout stage & awaits its opponent @ Olympiadone Stadium in Berlin, Germany.

Nobody expected the Austrians to win Group D, but now it's a reality with two powerhouse teams like world# 2 France, &  #7, Netherlands being part of the Group D, interesting to see how far Austria will advance in the UEFA Euro 2024 championship.


The game began with France & Netherland sharing first place with 4-points and Austria in third with 3-points after defeating Poland 3-1, on its 2nd match of the group stage competition.

Austria on its first counter-attack through the middle, forward Arko Arnautovic passed the ball to midfielder Alexander Prass to the left-side field, and from inside the 18' crossed it back to striker Arko Arnautovic but Dutch's Donyell Malen intercepted and unintentionally scored on his own goal at 6' mark to put Austria in front 1-0, at the half.

In the second half, the Dutch did not waste anytime and on its first counter-attack found the equalizer through striker Cody Gakpo to make it 1-1, at 47' mark.

The goal was originated on a counter-attack through the middle by midfielder Xavi Simons who entered from the bench in the 2nd half, gave it to Gakpo who from inside the penalty box scored with a curvy looping right-footed to the right-goalpost that ended in back of the net to tie the game 1-1, in the first 2' minute of the second half. 

After both teams traded counter-attacks back-and-forth the next 11', the Austrians scored its 2nd goal to go in front 2-1, over the Netherlands at 59' mark.

In another offensive attack through the left-side field, midfielder Florian Grillitsch centered the ball from inside the 18' to Romano Schmid who scored with a header to lower left-goalpost to put Austria ahead in the game 2-1, over the Dutch team.

The Netherlands fought back and kept the pressure till found the equalizer through Memphis Depay at 75' minute of the 2nd half.

The goal-play was originated through the left-side field, when striker 
Cody Gakpo centered the ball inside the penalty box finding forward Wout Weghorst who headed it to striker M. Depay who scored with a right-footed shot to the right-goalpost to even the game 2-2, with 15' remaining in the game.

The Austrians did not back down and in need of a victory to advance to next round answered back within 5', with another goal to regain the lead of 3-2, through Striker Marcel Sabitzer at 80' mark.

With 10' minutes remaining in the game, midfielder Christopher Baumgartner 
through the left-side field squeezed a rolling pass inside the 18' to Marcel Sabitzer who scored with a left-footed canon to the left-goal post upper corner to make it 3-2, and seal the victory for Austria over the Netherlands.

With the win, Austria finished first with 6-points in Group D, and advance to the knockout stage stunning the tournament, France and Netherlands who finished 2nd & 3rd in standings.  

Article by Marcello Cutti II / Starlight Illustrated