Austria, featuring Werder duo Romano Schmid and Marco Grüll, have been eliminated from this summer’s European Championship. After sweeping aside a strong Netherlands team in their final game of the group stage, the Austrians were unable to repeat that performance in Leipzig on Tuesday evening, falling to a 2-1 loss against Türkiye. The result means that the remainder of the tournament will see no Green-White representation.
Ralf Rangnick’s side came into the game full of confidence, but that confidence faltered after just 57 seconds, when Merih Demiral capitalised on Austria’s failure to clear a corner to slot home. Romano Schmid and his team-mates probed for an equaliser, but no goal was forthcoming.
Schmid’s involvement in the game was brought to an early end at half-time. Coach Rangnick rang the changes at the break in an effort to turn the game around, and Schmid – who had been booked - was replaced by Freiburg forward Michael Gregoritsch. While the substitutions initially appeared to have little effect, with Demiral again scoring from a corner just before the hour mark, it was Gregoritsch who restored hope for Austria with 25 minutes to play. Austria came agonisingly close to a stoppage-time equaliser, but a stunning stop by Turkish goalkeeper Mert Günok kept out Christoph Baumgartner’s header and ensured Türkiye’s passage to the quarter-finals.
Austria’s 70-year wait for a knockout win at a major tournament will continue for at least another two years, as will Marco Grüll’s wait for a major tournament debut. The winger remained on the bench throughout Austria’s four games.
