Euro 2024: Demiral plays bomber, Montella’s Turkey is in the quarters. Austria out

Euro 2024: Demiral makes bomber, Montella’s Turkey è to quarters. Austria out

Merih Demiral disguises himself as a bomber and sends Turkey to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024: a brace by the former Juventus defender allowed Vincenzo Montella’s team to beat Austria 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena and finish among Europe’s top 8. In the final decisive a miraculous save by Gunok.

Turkey unblocked the result after just 57 seconds of the match: former Juventus player Demiral bagged from a few steps a short rebound by Pentz on the development of a corner kick. The underwhelming goal sends Austria into confusion, as it fails to develop the brilliant play it showed during the group stage, and, apart from two chances by Baumgartner, Rangnick’s team can no longer create anything of note until halftime.

In the second half, Austria got off to a better start and Arnautovic gobbled up the equalizer at 51' but at 59' another corner was fatal: Demiral again, with an overpowering header off Arda Guler’s corner, found the doubling goal that sent the thousands of Turks in the stands of the Red Bull Arena into a frenzy.

Austria reacted and on 66'halved the distance with Gregoritsch, who on the development of a corner kick took advantage of Posch’s bank that cut through half the Turkish defense and signed the goal of hope. Austria rushed forward in a desperate search for the equalizing goal, Montella running for cover by removing wingers Yildiz and Arda Guler for two more defensive players.

Excited and thrilling final, Austria became unbalanced and Turkey acted on the counterattack: Gunok at 95' performed a miracle by parrying Baumgartner’s close-range header and Turkey qualified for the quarterfinals, where it will face Holland.