Goals from Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner, and Marko Arnautovic propelled Austria to their first victory of the tournament in Berlin. Robert Lewandowski returned for Poland, who were subsequently confirmed as the first nation to exit Euro 2024.
Report
“I know we can surprise them,” said Slovenia’s Benjamin Šeško, expressing confidence ahead of their test against England.
In other Euro 2024 action, Christoph Baumgartner and Marko Arnautović struck in the second half as Austria boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages with a 3-1 victory over Poland in Berlin.
In a Group D clash billed by both coaches as win or bust, Ralf Rangnick’s Austria roared out of the traps and took a ninth-minute lead courtesy of Gernot Trauner’s fine header from a Philipp Mwene cross. Poland responded and leveled when Krzysztof Piątek pounced upon a rebound to stab home on the half-hour mark.
The match maintained a relentless pace throughout, with both sides playing end-to-end football. Poland hoped the introduction of their talismanic forward Robert Lewandowski from the bench would turn the tide in their favor in the second half. However, it was Austria who took charge, with Baumgartner brilliantly finishing off a slick move just past the hour mark. Arnautović then made sure of the points with a penalty 12 minutes from time.
The result sees Austria move level on points with group leaders France and the Netherlands. Poland, on the other hand, are rock bottom and exit the tournament. Even a win in their last game would not be enough to overtake Austria due to their inferior head-to-head record against Rangnick’s side.
Next up, Austria faces the Netherlands on Tuesday, while Poland meets France as Group D comes to a climax.
Analysis
Austria was frequently mentioned in analysts’ Euro 2024 “dark horse” picks, and their latest performance certainly justifies this choice.
Under Ralf Rangnick’s guidance, Austria secured their first victory of the tournament against Poland with a display that was both effective and aesthetically pleasing. The team’s full-backs, Stefan Posch and Philipp Mwene, were particularly impressive, acting as key sources of attack throughout the match. Meanwhile, sitting midfielders Nicolas Seiwald and Konrad Laimer were instrumental in generating some of the best chances, displaying a blend of creativity and control.
Poland’s defense struggled to contain the dynamic movements and intricate work of Christoph Baumgartner and Marcel Sabitzer in the half-spaces. This relentless pressure and clever positioning led to a series of opportunities that Austria capitalized on, showcasing their tactical flexibility and attacking prowess.
With this win, Austria now stands on the brink of the knockout rounds. They face a pivotal game against the Netherlands, which will likely determine their progression. Securing second place in their group is crucial, as it could mean a matchup against England in the first knockout round if England finishes third. Given Austria’s current form and the quality of their play, such a matchup might not be as daunting as it sounds.
As Austria prepares for this decisive encounter, their confidence will be bolstered by their recent performance. The team’s balance between solid defense and innovative attack, combined with Rangnick’s strategic acumen, positions them well for the challenges ahead. Should they continue to play with the same vigor and precision, Austria could very well exceed expectations and make a deep run in Euro 2024.
PLAYER RATINGS
POLAND: Szczesny 7, Bednarek 6, Dawidowicz 6, Kiwior 6, Frankowski 6, Piotrowski 5, Slisz 6, Zalewski 7, Zielinski 7, Buksa 6, Piatek 7. Subs: Moder 6, Swiderski 6, Lewandowski 6, Grosicki 6.
AUSTRIA: Pentz 7, Posch 8, Trauner 8, Lienhart 8, Mwene 8, Seiwald 8, Grillitsch 7, Baumgartner 9*, Laimer 9, Sabitzer 9, Arnautovic 8. Subs: Wimmer 7, Danso 6, Prass 6, Schmid n/a, Gregoritsch n/a.
Player of the Match – Christoph Baumgartner (Austria)
The 24-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder epitomizes the style and tactical approach that Ralf Rangnick has instilled in the team. Baumgartner capped another classy yet high-energy display with his country’s all-important second goal, reinforcing his crucial role in Austria’s Euro 2024 campaign. His performance against Poland not only showcased his individual talent but also highlighted his ability to execute Rangnick’s game plan to perfection.
Key stats
- Austria picked up their first ever win over Poland in a competitive international (P7 W1 D2 L4), and their first in six meetings overall (D2 L3) since a 4-3 friendly win in May 1994.
- Lewandowski has matched goalkeeper Szczęsny in becoming the second Pole to feature at four EURO final tournaments.
- Having also scored at EURO 2020, Baumgartner and Arnautović’s both struck their second EURO finals goals; two apiece are enough to make them Austria’s all-time EURO top scorers.
- Aged 35 years and 73 days, Arnautovic becomes Austria’s second-oldest major tournament goalscorer (World Cup/EURO), after Ivica Vastic who also notched a penalty against Poland at EURO 2008 (38y 257d).
- Kamil Grosicki (36 years, 13 days) and Lewandowski (35 years, 305 days) became Poland’s oldest appearance makers at a major tournament (World Cup/EURO), surpassing Jacek Bąk (35 y 80d at EURO 2008).
- Trauner’s only previous goal for Austria was scored in a friendly win against Luxembourg in 2020. He is the eighth Austrian to find the net at a EURO.
- Austria have lost just two of their last 18 matches in all competitions (W13 D3), with those defeats coming against the top two ranked UEFA nations in FIFA’s rankings (Belgium, 2-3 in October 2023, and France, 0-1 at this EURO).