Euro 2024: Big Chance for Perennial Outsiders

Austria vs Turkey

This is the first ever meeting between these two nations at a major tournament and I suspect the Euro 2024 clash will actually prove to be one of the most entertaining of all the last 16 ties.

Why do I think it will be full of Euro 2024 highlights?

Well, because there is plenty of talent on both sides for a start, but it is more than that.

This game in Leipzig represents a wonderful opportunity for either nation – ranked 25^th and 41^st in the world respectively – to reach the quarter-finals of a major championship for the first time since Turkey went onto finish in third place at the 2002 World Cup.

The stakes are high, the opportunity even higher and rarer for two nations who have been perennial outsiders when it comes to tournament football.

Talking Points

Austria were impressive in seeing off Holland on Tuesday night, a win which ensured they topped their group at the expense of favourites France and the Dutch.

Turkey may have lost comprehensively to Portugal in the group stages but under Vincenzo Montella were too strong for debutants Georgia and the 10-man Czech Republic so will be no pushovers.

To highlight the point, Montella is a boss who, despite two chastening defeats during the March get-together, had previously overseen an unbeaten run since taking over last September, as well as helping them complete a qualifying campaign which saw Turkey top their group.

They have suffered a big blow in the run-up to the contest as they are without the services of influential captain Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Inter Milan midfielder, who put his country ahead in their 2-1 win against the Czechs last week, is suspended after he collected a second booking of the group stages.

Montella praised his captain following the ill-tempered affair which saw 16 yellow and two red cards issued – the manager irritated his skipper was booked for just asking the official for an explanation: ‘He’s the captain. That’s his role. He’s allowed to do that. I’m sure he said nothing offensive. That was a bit too strict. And we will pay for it dearly,’ said Montella.

There are a few doubts over some in the Austrian camp too.

Both Gernot Trauner (thigh) and Phillipp Mwene (illness) have missed training in recent days, while Philipp Lienhart and Leopold Querfeld required more time to recover from beating the Dutch and worked away from the squad on Friday.

On saying all of that, I expect the quartet will be available for selection by the time Tuesday comes around.

Austria will definitely be without Wolfsburg winger Patrick Wimmer due to a one-game ban.

Bundesliga stalwarts Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner, who plies his trade in Leipzig where this tie will be played, are the main contenders to replace him while Romano Schmid hopes to keep his place on the opposite flank.

Former Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has been entrusted with an advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 setup and no doubt will be key once more.

Austria’s run to the knockout stages from a tough group has been all the more impressive given the absence of David Alaba and finding a first-choice defensive pairing has perhaps the biggest challenge for boss Ralf Rangnick.

Defeat Turkey and his reputation – which suffered a bit of a dent during a five-month period at interim charge of Manchester United – will rise that bit more.

History

Will Hakan Calhanoglu help his team overcome Austria in their Euro 2024 knockout match — Turkey’s Hakan Calhanoglu is challenged by Czechia’s Robin Hranac during their Euro 2024 match

Austria hold the edge historically with nine victories to Turkey’s seven wins and just the solitary draw.

Yet, friendly or not, it will be fresh in the minds of both nations that Austria smashed Turkey 6-1 only three months ago.

On that occasion, in Vienna, a Michael Gregoritsch hat-trick (one a penalty) led the way with the other goals coming from Xaver Schlager, Baumgartner (also a penalty) and Maximilian Entrup.

Calhanoglu had briefly levelled from the spit for the Turks before Austria took charge in the second half.

Their encounter immediately before that was in 2016 when Turkey ran out 2-1 winners through goals from Çalhanoğlu and Arda Turan.

Their only draw in history was a Euro 2012 qualifier in September 2011 in Vienna which ended goalless.

That was also their last competitive meeting.

The inaugural clash was played in May 1948 when Alfred Korner scored the only goal of the friendly in Istanbul.