Austria manager Ralf Rangnick seemed to take a swipe at England after Austria’s dramatic exit from Euro 2024 following a 2-1 defeat by Turkey. The thrilling match in Leipzig saw Turkey advance to the quarter-finals, thanks to the fastest knockout goal in Euros history.
Despite Austria’s early exit, Rangnick’s team impressed many by topping a group that included heavyweights like France, the Netherlands, and Poland. Their attacking prowess was evident as they scored seven goals in the first four rounds, a tally surpassed only by Germany and Spain. Notably, Austria matched the combined goal count of early favorites England and France.
Rangnick highlighted this point in his post-match press conference: “I think the four games we played were very entertaining, including today’s game,” said the former Manchester United boss. “Not everything went accurately. We could have played a few passes better, but they were four very entertaining games, very intense, super intense.”
Austria’s Entertaining Play
Austria’s matches stood out for their intensity and excitement. “I’ve seen other games where it was difficult to even stay awake, and that was not the case with our games,” Rangnick remarked. This comment appeared to be a veiled criticism of some of the less thrilling matches involving England and France. Notably, France has yet to see one of their own players score from open play, relying instead on two own goals and a penalty.
Near Miss for Austria
Austria almost equalized in the dying seconds of the match, but it was too late. Rangnick acknowledged the lack of luck that plagued his team: “I believe if the game had gone into extra time, we would have had a chance to win because I think Turkey were fairly exhausted at the end, and we had a physical advantage.”
Reflecting on the match, Rangnick pointed to Austria’s shortcomings in defense and missed opportunities. “We didn’t score enough goals or create enough chances, and in the set pieces, we didn’t defend very well. At the second one, we had three players who were very good at headers, but [Merih] Demiral still scored.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, Rangnick remained optimistic about Austria’s future prospects. He emphasized the need to carry the momentum from their Euro 2024 campaign into the Nations League and World Cup qualification. “If we continue to play the way we have in these four games, then we have a good chance to qualify for the World Cup.”
Austria’s spirited performances have garnered praise and set a solid foundation for future competitions. As they look forward to upcoming challenges, Rangnick and his team can take pride in their journey and the excitement they’ve brought to Euro 2024.
