Demiral Double Spurs Turkey to Euro 2024 Quarters! Dark Horses Continue Fairytale Run After Austria Thriller
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
Demiral scored two brilliant goals as Turkey beat Austria to book a quarter-final tie with the Netherlands.
Both teams came into the game looking to underline their credentials as dark horses at Euro 2024, and they put on a game to match, as the tie was played at 100 miles per hour. Indeed, having played out a thriller with Georgia in the group stages, this was yet another classic involving Turkey at this tournament.
Turkey had the lead, staggeringly, within a minute, as Merih Demiral capitalised on confused Austrian defending to fire home from close-range.
And Austria were almost level within two minutes, as a corner flashed across the face of goal and Christoph Baumgartner came agonisingly close to poking it over the line.
Austria kept pouring forward as rain lashed down, but while they created openings, they struggled to find a way to truly test goalkeeper Mert Gunok.
And just before the hour mark, Demiral added a shock second, as the centre-back met a brilliant corner delivery from Arda Guler to give Turkey breathing room.
It was required, too, as Austria pulled a goal back just six minutes later. A flick-on from a corner found Michael Gregoritsch, who had ghosted in at the back post, and he finished brilliantly.
There were some unsavoury scenes whenever a set-piece was awarded, however, with plastic cups being thrown by supporters onto the pitch. Marcel Sabitzer was struck by one such missile while lining up a corner with the score at 2-1.
Austria did everything they could to mount a late comeback, but Turkey’s backline would not buckle, with Gunok making a sensational late save to deny Ralf Rangnick’s men. The Netherlands await.
DID YOU KNOW?
Neither team have an immense amount of pedigree in the European Championship. Austria’s best finish in the competition came at the delayed Euro 2020, when they reached the Round of 16. Turkey, by comparison, reached the semi-finals at Euro 2008.
THE MVP
Demiral was an absolute colossus for Turkey. He scored a shock brace, and continually put his body on the line at the last. As brave a defender as you will ever see, and a player whose stock has undoubtedly risen after this performance. He was incredible.
THE BIG LOSER
Marko Arnautovic cut a lonely, isolated figure for Austria up front. While you would expect the striker to operate as a figurehead, he was regularly blocked off by the Turkish backline, and failed to take a massive chance at 1-0, when he was sent through one-on-one but was denied by goalkeeper Gunok.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
A quarter-final against the Netherlands, who beat Romania 3-0 on Monday, awaits on Saturday evening. Whoever wins that last-eight tie will play the winner of England’s clash with Switzerland in the semi-final.
