Austria beat Netherlands to top Group D in EURO 2024

Wednesday | June 26, 2024

Austria pulled an outstanding performance under the Berlin sky night defeating Netherlands 3-2 at Olympiastadion Berlin last night in their final Group D match of the European Championship (Euro) 2024.

The Austrians piled on pressure very early in the game and were ahead through an own goal from Donyell Malen on the 6^th minute. Then there was a goal drought in the remainder of the first half.

Immediately upon receiving instructions from the break, Cody Gakpo restored parity (to 1-1) in the 47^th minute. Yet, it was not long when Romano Schmid restored Austria’s lead 11 minutes later to make the score 2-1.

This Group D match was shaping up to be a goal fest. At that juncture it was Memphis Depay’s turn to have say in this incredible encounter with a 75^th minute equalizer. There and then Netherlands and Austria were level on 2-2.

As it were, Austria fired the first salvo and would be the last to do so with the 80^th minute winner from Marcel Sabizer’s thunderbolt in the back of the net.

Netherlands never recovered from that rude strike. So they lost 3-2 in the end.

France 1-1 Poland

In the meantime, in the corresponding Group D fixture played concurrently, Poland held France to a 1-1 draw at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

Unlike the other game in Berlin, this one was short of goals.

However, it took a Killian Mbappe’s 56^th minute spot-kick to give France the lead. But Poland’s talisman levelled the scores in the 79^th minute. And so the tie ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

So Austria tops Group D with six (6) points; behind is France with five points; both these teams gained automatic qualification in the last 16.

Furthermore, Netherlands’ 3^rd position with four (4) points also guarantee them progresses to the elimination round by virtue of being one of the third-place best finishers. There are four (4) spots for third-placed teams that join the number ones and twos of each of the six groups (A-F) in the knockout phase.

Poland, unfortunately, only got a single point and finished 4^th in this group. Thus, the Polish say their farewells to the 17^th UEFA European Championship competition.