Euro 2024′s second home team, Turkey, are into the quarter-finals after beating Austria 2-1 in Leipzig.
They were high on confidence after producing arguably the most exciting group campaign of any team, smashing three goals past Poland and the Netherlands in consecutive matches. They were also the favourites, their organised chaos generally reckoned more formidable than Turkey’s disorganised chaos.
Arda Güler’s corner swerved towards goal and was stopped on the line by the surprised Baumgartner, but the clearance bounced off Stefan Posch and back towards the Austrian goal. Patrick Pentz pawed it away again but now it fell perfectly for Merih Demiral to smash it into the net from six yards.Austria like the game to be fast and open, hoping to tilt the balance their way through superior fitness, organisation, teamwork and attitude.
Austria had another chance late, Posch’s low cross from the right going through Demiral and reaching Baumgartner at the near post, but for the second time in the match he seemed surprised by the arrival of the ball and put it wide from four yards. On the hour mark Turkey won another corner. This time Güler curled it to the near post, and Demiral produced a phenomenal vertical leap to beat both Austrian centre-backs and score his second of the night at the near post.