Austria beat Poland to close on last 16 at Euro 2024
Austria's hopes of reaching the Euro 2024 knockout phases were strengthened on Friday when Marko Arnautovic scored in an outstanding 3-1 victory over Poland, with Robert Lewandowski only appearing as an ineffective substitute.Austria, led by Ralf Rangnick, will most certainly qualify for the round of 16 if they avoid defeat against the Netherlands in their final Group D match on Tuesday.
Poland can no longer finish in the top two and will almost definitely need to beat France to advance as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Gernot Trauner gave Austria a merited early lead but Krzysztof Piatek, who had missed the opening loss to the Netherlands, equalised for Poland in the 30th minute.
Lewandowski was brought for his first appearance of the tournament with half an hour left, but he was a peripheral figure as Poland fell to the brink of elimination.
Christoph Baumgartner restored Austria's lead following a wonderful team play, and Arnautovic's 78th-minute penalty ended the game.
Austria, who reached the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time since 1954 at Euro 2020, will be assured of progress if they overcome the Dutch, who face France later Friday.
Despite Poland coach Michal Probierz's hopes that the Barcelona striker would be able to play, Lewandowski was unable to start due to a thigh injury sustained last week.
Fans from both nations, which border Germany, packed the Olympiastadion.
The Poland fans who had travelled the short distance outnumbered their rivals, but it was the wall of fans in red Austrian shirts who were hopping up and down in celebration less than nine minutes in.
Their squad started strong and was rewarded with the lead when defender Trauner blasted a header past Polish custodian Wojciech Szczesny following great flank play by left-back Phillipp Mwene.
Poland, on the other hand, grew into the game, and Nicola Zalewski squandered a fantastic chance to equalise when he fired over.
The teams' two most recent meetings, in Euro 2020 qualifying, yielded only one goal each.
Piatek strikes.
However, an enthralling game was level shortly before the half-hour mark, when Piatek pounced to slot in from close range after Trauner blocked Jan Bednarek's attempt.
Austria had a great opportunity to regain the lead with a three-on-two attack, but Bednarek blocked Marcel Sabitzer's shot.
Rangnick's side nearly fell down in first-half extra time when Piotr Zielinski's free kick forced custodian Patrick Pentz into a diving save.
Austria started the second half brightly, with Szczesny saving Stefan Posch's header.
When Lewandowski entered the game in the 60th minute, there was a loud roar throughout the stadium.
His only notable involvement was receiving a yellow card immediately after entering the game for elbowing Philipp Lienhart in the face.
Austria regained the lead with a beautifully executed goal in the 66th minute.
Arnautovic deflected substitute Alexander Prass' incisive pass, and Baumgartner took a touch and calmly deposited the ball in the bottom corner.
Austria could have sealed the three points with 15 minutes remaining when Patrick Wimmer's low effort was saved by the increasingly busy Szczesny.
However, the third goal came shortly after, when Arnautovic calmly converted a penalty after Sabitzer was brought down by Szczesny in front of goal.
Austria attempted to make the final score ugly for Poland, but Szczesny made a stunning fingertip save on Posch's long-range effort.
The Poles were suddenly a shambles, and Konrad Laimer dribbled a shot wide of an open goal after rounding Sczcesny, but even that mistake could not detract from Austria's third major tournament victory in 34 years.
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