Turkey Edges Austria in Round of 16 Thriller to Face Netherlands in Quarterfinal
In a dramatic Round of 16 match at the 2024 Euro Cup, Turkey triumphed over Austria with a thrilling 2-1 victory, courtesy of Merih Demiral’s double strike. This win secured Turkey’s spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face the Netherlands in Berlin.
The match kicked off at a breakneck pace, with Demiral finding the net just 57 seconds in, setting the tone for a high-octane encounter. The Turkish central defender was a dominant force throughout the match, adding a second goal with a powerful header just before the hour mark.
Austria, not to be outdone, fought back valiantly. Michael Gregoritsch managed to reduce the deficit midway through the second half, injecting hope into the Austrian side. The closing minutes of the match were nail-biting, with Austria pressing hard for an equalizer. Their efforts nearly paid off in the final seconds when Christopher Baumgartner’s header seemed destined for the net, only to be denied by a stunning one-handed save from Turkish goalkeeper Gunok.
The final whistle sparked joyous celebrations across Germany, where a large Turkish community took to the streets, honking car horns, waving flags, and chanting in delight. The victory has rekindled memories of Turkey’s impressive run to the Euro 2008 semifinals, raising hopes for a similar achievement this year.
For Austria, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite showing promise throughout the tournament, they remain in search of their first knockout stage win at a major tournament since 1954. The loss marks a disappointing end to what had been ahopeful campaign for the tournament dark horses.
Turkey will now prepare to face the Netherlands on Saturday, a team that secured their place in the quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Romania. The upcoming clash in Berlin promises to be another exciting chapter in Euro 2024’s unfolding drama.
