Turkey are through to the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championships after edging Austria in an enthralling encounter in Leipzig.
Merih Demiral put Turkey ahead inside the first minute and grabbed his second of the game just before the hour mark.
A goal from substitute Michael Gregoritsch minutes later gave Ralf Rangnick’s side a route back into the game, but they just fell short against an astute Turkish backline.
In a thrilling knockout tie, how did both sets of players perform?
-
Austria
Patrick Pentz - 7/10
For Turkey’s first goal, Pentz swiped at the ball to stop it from crossing the goal-line but could only parry it as far as Demiral. He did, however, produce a couple of excellent pieces of goalkeeping late on.
Stefan Posch - 8/10
The Bologna full-back was one of the defenders who couldn’t clear their lines for that opener. That was a rare blemish on what was a great showing. Some of his deliveries from the right were first class.
Kevin Danso - 5/10
Danso helped limit the Turkish to just a few chances but lost his aerial duel for Turkey’s opener and with Demiral for their second.
Philipp Lienhart - 6/10
Likewise, Lienhart defended quite well, but along with the rest of the Austrian backline, he will be disappointed they conceded twice from corners.
Philipp Mwene - 5/10
Had no joy on the left flank and was hooked at half-time.
Konrad Laimer - 6/10
Helped Austria win the ball back and was fairly safe in their build-up play but offered little when trying to break down a dogged defensive unit.
Nicolas Seiwald - 7/10
Fought for every ball and was key in helping Austria retain possession with his high energy levels, always chasing the second balls.
Romano Schmid - 5/10
Like Mwene, the Werder Bremen man was substituted at half-time after a subpar first half. Schmid was completely nullified by Ferdi Kadioglu and had next to no impact on proceedings.
Christoph Baumgartner - 7/10
The RB Leipzig man was always looking to make things happen. However, some of his final balls and finishes left a lot to be desired. It must be said, whenever Austria came forward looking for a goal later on, he was always involved.
Baumgartner will consider himself very unfortunate to not come away with a goal, particularly due to that last gasp saved header.
Marcel Sabitzer - 6/10
Not quite as influential as he so often is for club and country out on the left and then on the right. Sabitzer looked to cause problems for the defence but rarely succeeded.
Marko Arnautovic - 4/10
Austria’s captain was dealt with well by the opposing defence and when he did get a chance, the former West Ham and Stoke City man missed the target.
Substitutes
Alexander Prass - 7/10
Prass was much more involved than Mwene, bringing lots of energy with his marauding runs up the left flank. It was his terrific delivery that created Baumgartner’s last chance.
Michael Gregoritsch - 7/10
The Freiburg man delivered an almost perfect cameo off the bench, grabbing the goal to give Austria a route back into the game and held up the play much better than Arnautovic as their attacking outlet.
Maximilian Wöber - 6/10
Helped Austria keep the ball as they went in search of a leveller.
Florian Grillitsch - 6/10
Similarly, was sharp in their buildup play at a time of urgency.
-
Turkey
Mert Günok - 9/10
Günok made several saves to deny Austria, none better than his last minute stop to keep out Baumgartner - a save of the highest quality and importance and one that will be etched into European Championships folklore.
Mert Müldür - 7/10
Austria had very little joy in the wide areas. Müldür had their left flank locked down.
Abdülkerim Bardakci - 8/10
Bardakci made many clearances throughout the game, throwing himself in front of everything for his nation.
Merih Demiral - 9/10
A rock at the back for Vincenzo Montella’s side and a deadly goal threat. Demiral did well to find the roof of the net with two defenders and a goalkeeper to beat for the opener and the second was an expertly guided header.
Those goals, along with his 17 clearances and four blocks (just to list a couple of stats), won Turkey this tie. The former Juventus man is their national hero tonight.
Ferdi Kadioglu - 8/10
The Borussia Dortmund transfer target locked down the left flank for Turkey and showed threat going in the other direction with his composure and speed of thought. He was just what Montella’s side needed, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
Ismail Yüksek - 6/10
Went under the radar in this game, with Turkey’s attackers and defenders rightfully taking the plaudits.
Kaan Ayhan - 7/10
The Turkey captain made a big tackle late on, along with 11 clearances, slotting back into the defence in the latter stages to help his side see out a huge win.
Orkun Kökcü - 6/10
Benfica’s midfielder was rather wasteful in possession but like the rest of his teammates, left it all out on the pitch, going down late on when helping his country seal the victory.
Arda Güler - 8/10
Turkey’s star-boy linked up his side’s attacks almost effortlessly, showing real composure and maturity at such a young age. Both of Demiral’s goals came from his deliveries. He may not have seen an awful lot of the ball, but he was very effective with it.
Kenan Yildiz - 6/10
Juventus’ young star couldn’t quite get into the game in the wide areas.
Baris Alper Yilmaz - 7/10
Yilmaz ran the hard yards for his side, pressing from the front and holding the ball up rather well. He was also unlucky not to score, having been denied by a top save from Pentz.
Substitutes
Salih Özcan - 6/10
The Dortmund man was well-disciplined in midfield, making life difficult for the Austrians.
Okay Yokuslu - 7/10
West Brom’s Okay made a few crucial clearances late on.
Kerem Akturkoglu - 6/10
Moved the ball up the pitch well in his little time off the bench to get the ball as far away from Turkey’s goal as possible.
Irfan Kahveci - N/A
Kahveci touched the ball just once in six minutes plus stoppage time.
