Did we just witness the save of the century? It felt like that for Turkey. It was probably the save of all time for them as they secured their place in the quarter-finals of the European Championship.
But, really, where will the remarkable stop by goalkeeper Mert Gunok rank? It must be the best of this tournament. It was a stunning, instinctive reaction from the 35-year-old as he threw himself to his right to reach a close-range header from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner.
It was made all the more dramatic as it came in the 95th and final minute of this intense last-16 tie. The ball was hoisted deep into the Turkey penalty area as Austria desperately fought to force extra time. Baumgartner met it powerfully, his header zipping up off the sodden turf. Gunok’s reactions were remarkable, turning the ball behind, before he celebrated with the Turkey fans packed behind his goal. Baumgartner held his head in disbelief. He was not alone.
And so after being involved in the biggest goalkeeping gaffe, against Portugal, Turkey can claim the greatest save.
How did it compare to Peter Schmeichel’s save against Rapid Vienna for Manchester United in the Champions League in 1996? Or David Seaman’s for Arsenal against Sheffield United in the FA Cup in 2003? Or even to England’s Gordon Banks to deny Pele in the 1970 World Cup?
“Correct,” was the clipped, one-word reply from Austria coach Ralf Rangnick when asked directly about that last comparison. “I believe we did not have the luck … it’s difficult when they have Gordon Banks in the goal.”
For Turkey it is all three saves wrapped into one – and more – as the most frenetic night in these Euros so far ended with Austria out and their conquerors heading to Berlin to face the Netherlands in the last eight. England or Switzerland will face the winners.
It will be a riotous occasion in the German capital, as was this one, which almost spilt over as in a Leipzig downpour missiles rained down on corner-takers from both sides. Turkey’s Arda Guler was targeted, cupping his ear as beer was thrown, but eventually it was Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer who was struck, falling to the turf and holding his head after being hit by a coin. Turkey defender Salih Ozcan ran over to appeal to fans.
It added to the sense of chaos. This tie, with both sides going for it from the off, contrasted sharply with much of the tournament so far. “I have seen other games when it was difficult to stay awake, but that was not the case with our games,” Rangnick said, and it is a pity that Austria are on their way home.
At the final whistle, Turkey’s players and staff ringed the centre circle, none of their fans left, and then there was a signal as they all manically celebrated together. It was quite a sight. They are a hugely committed team and have a gem of a teenager, Guler, their false nine, at the centre of it.
Turkey are the entertainers of these Euros. To the thrilling opening group game against Georgia, the defeat by Portugal featuring that own goal and the card-filled – 16 yellows and two reds – win over the Czech Republic can be added this end-to-end classic. It was epic for its atmosphere alone.
So much has been made of Austria’s fast starts, but it was Turkey who scored the quickest goal in a Euros knockout tie as a mess was made of clearing a corner. Goalkeeper Patrick Pentz scooped the ball away from the goal-line, after it rebounded off two defenders, only for Merih Demiral to slam it high into the net. It was timed at just 57 seconds.
Austria pressed and will curse their fortune as, despite their efforts, they could not force the ball in. Chances were missed, most notably by Marko Arnautovic, who was clear on goal but was denied by Gunok.
Austria had thrashed Turkey 6-1 when the two nations met in a friendly in March, but this was not only a very different occasion, but a very different proposition in front of them. Turkey scored again when Demiral was allowed to meet another corner.
Austria then finally struck back as substitute Michael Gregoritsch pounced at the far post. Turkey had two breakaways but failed to take either. Would they pay the price?
It looked like they would, only for the veteran Gunok to write his name in his country’s history and open a debate.
Austria 1 Turkey 2: as it happened
10:20 PM BST
Please stop chucking things
10:10 PM BST
Turkey’s two central midfielders
Orkun Kokcu and Ismail Yuksek will serve suspensions on Saturday against Netherlands but their captain Hakan Calhanoglu and Samet Akaydin will be available after sitting out this one.
How good was that save?
Maths has the answer, as does Norm:
Austria’s last minute header was worth 0.94(xGOT).
In other words, a goalkeeper would only be expected to save the effort 6% of the time. pic.twitter.com/9DL3nLTIYQ
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) July 2, 2024
There are so many things about this save, not just the keeping it out at the end, watching flight of ball, glance at striker, planting of feet at the right time, anticipation, agility, judgement of wet surface, strong fingers,
Amazing #goalkeepersunion https://t.co/cvYTA2OE6k— Mark Crossley (@bignorms) July 2, 2024
10:05 PM BST
The most enjoyable knockout game by far
And possibly the best in the tournament. Lee Dixon likened Gunok’s save to Banks’ in 1970 against Pele. It was a superb save but Banks’ was better. Tonight’s bounce was higher, meaning he did not have to get down so low so quickly to flick it away with a twist of the wrist.
10:00 PM BST
Here’s Gunok’s terrific save
09:55 PM BST
Full time: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Turkey are through to the quarter-final and will play Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday night.
Thoroughly deserved. Terrific performances from most of them but Guler, Demiral and Gunok were simply outstanding.
09:53 PM BST
90+4 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Oh my goodness. The save of the tournament keeps Turkey ahead when Gunok dives down to his right and slaps away Baumgartner’s bullet header. Up comes Pentz for the corner but Turkey see off the cross and the ref blows his whistle.
09:52 PM BST
90+3 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Bardakci keeps out Posch’s cross and Kadioglu dribbles it up to Yilmaz. Wober is the only one back and the centre-forward spins him to shoot and Pentz divs to his left to claw it away.
09:50 PM BST
90+2 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Turkey are taking their time over restarts and who can blame them?
09:49 PM BST
90+1 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Yokuslu volleys away Gregoritsch’s knockdown in the box and Bardakci hits the deck with cramp.
09:48 PM BST
89 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
End to end. Austria out of desperation, Turkey out of opportunity when desperation fails. Who wouldn’t relish extra-time, bar millions of Turks.
Four minutes of stoppage time to come.
09:47 PM BST
87 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Pentz races out to cut out Aturkoglu’s pass intended for Yilmaz as they broke quickly then Yilmaz blazes over moments later when Austria’s counter fails at Baumgartner’s feet.
09:44 PM BST
85 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Sabitzer and Kadioglu have an argument and chest-off high on the Austria right and then Baumgartner heads over from the corner backpedalling away from goal.
09:43 PM BST
84 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Posch and Sabitzer are enjoying the freedom of the right now and the right-back whizzes over a cross that seems to be falling perfectly for Baumgartner until Demiral and Gunok contrive a clearance.
09:41 PM BST
81 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Kokcu has twanged his hamstring and is limping as Austria attack down the right with Seiwald whose cross is hacked away and then through Sabitzer whose centre bobbles through to the back post for Baumgarnter whose first touch taks the ball a bit too far away from him and hence his poked, rushed shot is blocked.
09:38 PM BST
79 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Yokuslu ⇢ Guler
Akturkoglku ⇢ Yildiz.
Turkey are trying to hold what they have but it could be dangerous, robbing them of an outlet and two ball carriers.
Turkey defend Sabitzer’s corner at the near post but back come Austria.
09:36 PM BST
76 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Turkey are starting to look ragged at the back in that they are dropping too deep when Seiwald and Grillitsch bring it forward.
Sabitzer slips away to the right and belts over a right-foot cross that Arnautovic meets by the right of the penalty spot and Bardakci gets the last touch in an aerial challenge that goes out for a corner.
As Sabitzer prepares to take the corner he is struck on the forehead by a missile thrown from the crowd.
09:33 PM BST
74 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Grillitsch, hanging around at the edge of the Turkey box for scraps when Austria go down the right, snaps on to a deflection to shoot from 22 yards … straight at Gunok.
09:32 PM BST
72 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Sabitzer, who was pelted by Turkish cups in retaliation before the goal, is again when he takes a corner from the other side. Gunok comes out and deals with that one. An eye for an eye, a cup for a cup.
09:30 PM BST
70 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Gregoritsch, in the pouring rain, sneaks in behind the centre-backs onto a long ball but can head only down Gunok’s throat.
09:27 PM BST
68 min: Austria 1 Turkey 2
Austria had made two changes moments before the corner.
Gregoritsch ⇢ Laimer
Wober ⇢ Lienhart.
Just after the goal Siewald tries to catch Gunok out by surprise.
09:24 PM BST
GOAL!
Austria 1 Turkey 2 (Gregoritsch) Another goal from a corner. The substitute Gregoritsch stabs it in at the back post after a flick-on from Posch.
09:23 PM BST
64 min: Austria 0 Turkey 2
Baumgartner’s passing hasn’t been good enough tonight and he overeggs a pass that could have put Posch in down the right of the box.
09:22 PM BST
62 min: Austria 0 Turkey 2
Lienhart escapes another yellow card when sliding in and catching Guler late.
09:17 PM BST
GOAL!
Austria 0 Turkey 2 (Demiral) Guler prepares to take a corner on the right earned by Yilmaz’s doggedness. He is showered in empty beer cups by Austria fans but turns to smile at them and cups his ear after whipping in another excellent left-foot cross that Demiral rises above Danso and Arnautovic at the near post to bury with a superb header. The muscles on his neck were standing out like cables as he twisted it.
09:17 PM BST
58 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Arnautovic is put through on the keeper again but this time is offside. Up the other end Kadioglu bombs down the left to take on a shot when he really should have passed.
First Turkey change:
Ozcan ⇢ Yuksek.
09:15 PM BST
56 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Turkey are rocking now since the formation switch and they are not tracking the third man runs. Sabitzer and Arnautovic make strides and a shot ricochets out and then Posch chests it down and shoots, both feet off the ground, draining the power out of it. The ball rebounds off a defender for a corner that Turkey defend at the near post.
09:11 PM BST
54 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Laimer goes on a slalom from right to centre, making 20 yards, jinking and feinting until he reaches the box and seems to slip as he lined Demiral up before dragging a left-foot shot wide of the left post.
09:10 PM BST
53 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Big save from the excellent Gunok when Arnautovic is threaded through down the inside-right. One-on-one with the onrushing keeper he tries to lift it but Gunok makes himself big, starfish style, and blocks the shot.
09:08 PM BST
51 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Arnautovic spins in the centre-circle and chips a pass down the right for Posch to stride on to and cross towards the back post where Gregoritsch heads it over under the close challenge of Demiral.
09:07 PM BST
50 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria’s subs have switched the formation to 4-3-3 with Baumgartmer on the right, Gregoritsch on the left and Arnautovic down the middle to occupy Turkey’s defence since it has switched to a back three.
09:06 PM BST
48 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Long diagonal from Prass left to right for Baumgartner to run in behind Bardakci to hook over a cross by the byline that Gregoritsch stabs wide from 12 yards. Face-savingly for him, the ball had snuck out of play before Baumgartner centred it.
09:03 PM BST
46 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Rangnick shakes it up:
Prass ⇢ Mwene
Gregoritsch ⇢ Schmid.
08:51 PM BST
Half-time: Austria 0 Turkey 1
What larks, Pip! Turkey’s early goal has suited their style perfectly. They have played high speed counter-attacking football without parking the bus and in Yildiz of Juventus and Guler of Real Madrid carry a genuine threat every time they break. Austria have been competent but seem discombobulated by the pace of Turkey, the ferocity of their counter-press and being behind.
08:49 PM BST
45+1 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria catch Turkey out of shape when they break down a counter and Schmid dribbles down the right and dinks a pass down the line for the overlapping Posch. The right-back fires over a low cross that goes under Bardakci’s lunge and surprises Baumgartner standing eight yards out by the near post. It hits his left foot, rather than him striking the ball, and his inadvertent shot spins inches wide. He neither opened his body not had a swing with his right to broaden the angle.
08:46 PM BST
44 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Turkey free-kick on the right. They will take their time over it but are happy to commit seven into the box. Seiwald heads it away and Yilmaz turns a cross cum shot down Pentz’s throat.
08:43 PM BST
42 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Yellow card for Yuksek for bundling Baumgartner over and he, like Kokcu, will be ineligible for the next round.
08:42 PM BST
40 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Turkey have the ball on the right for half a minute, knocking it between Ayhan, Muldur and Yilmaz. Kadioglu tacks all the way over from left-back to join the overload then bends a left-foot floater into the box too long.
08:39 PM BST
38 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria try a Kyle Walker trebuchet throw into the box from the right that is flicked on by Danso but Gunok comes out to stop Arnautovic and Sabitzer pouncing had he let the ball bounce.
Schmid is booked for a grappling offence as Turkey tried to break from Gunok’s throw.
08:37 PM BST
36 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Now Mwene fizzes pass to Baumgartner by the left of the D. Arnautovic peels off to await the dinked, first-time pass which is snuffed out by Demiral.
08:36 PM BST
34 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Arnautovic and Sabitzer combine down the left, trying to manipulate Muldur and Ayhan out of position but recognising that only the diddy Schmid is in the box, Arnautovic races away towards the penalty spot to await the cross which the overlapping Mwene whacks across the 18-yard line inexplicably. Turkey knock the ball upfield.
08:34 PM BST
32 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Sabitzer thumps a daisycutter from 25 yards when Turkey’s back five retreat as he dribbles. Demiral improvises a clearance on his backside after slipping.
08:33 PM BST
30 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria have slowed it down now, which is unlike them. Turkey are out Red Bulling them.
08:30 PM BST
28 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Kokcu carries the ball 40 yards down the inside-left, gives it to Guler who pings it out to Muldur on the right. Austria see the attack off but can’t keep hold of the ball. Kadioglu smiles as if he’s got away with something when Posch is penalised for fouling him.
08:28 PM BST
26 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Yilmaz comes out to the right to take the ball, nutmegs Lienhart and hares past the centre-back before walloping a cross through the box that flies past everyone.
08:25 PM BST
23 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Turkey free-kick on the left for Posch’s foul on Yildiz who is shuttling up and down the win. Guler stands over the ball, about 30 yards out. Guler swerves the cross in towards the penalty spot and Danso gets it away awkwardly off his chest, he insists. No intervention from VAR so it wasn’t hands as Lee Dixon contends.
Turkey corner on the right which is where the goal came from. Guler takes again and bends it perfectly for Demiral, wight yards out but his leap is mistimed and he knocks it over with his shoulder.
08:23 PM BST
21 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria’s possession climbs to 60 percent after the last five minutes of probing. Turkey are happy to sit in patiently, defend robustly then hit them on the break.
08:21 PM BST
18 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Guler latches on to Baumgartner’s misplaced pass at the end of a minute of Austrian passing and moving between Turkey’s box and centre-circle. The Real Madrid forward sets off upfield from the 18-yard line, his legs a whirring blur and, spotting Pentz off his line, tries to chip him from 55 yards but the ball floats harmlessly off target.
08:18 PM BST
16 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Whistles and boos whenever Austria have possession. A longish spell of probing on the ball by Austria ends when Posch rolls a pass down the right for Smid but his outswinging right-foot cross bisects Baumgartner and Arnautovic and Demiral heads it away.
08:16 PM BST
14 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Gunok hits a long diagonal to Muldur and they play through the Rangnick gegenpress to feed Guler down the right. The Real Madrid forward takes the direct route up the byline and pings over a cross that Austria scramble away at the near post.
Austria are rattled by Turkey’s tempo. They are used to setting the pace themselves.
08:14 PM BST
12 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Schmid shoves Kadioglu as they go up for the corner and that’s the end of that.
08:12 PM BST
10 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Free-kick for Austria 30 yards out, central, for Kockcu’s sliding clip of Baumgartner;heels. Sabitzer takes and plants it on to the leaping Bardakci’s brow and out for a corner. Hugely enjoyable, madcap game so far.
08:10 PM BST
8 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
VAR checks for a penalty, for a possible Demiral foul on Baumgartner but sticks with the onfield decision. Lienhart then heads the second corner over the bar.
08:09 PM BST
6 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Amazingly entertaining start as Austria have a corner on the left that somehow takes the Barnes-Wallis route of bouncing through the six-yard box, skips across the line, beating Gunok and Baumgartner slides in and cannot convert. he might have been put off by Demiral’s collision or by clanging the post but the ball skimmed past him and put out for another corner.
08:06 PM BST
4 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Baumgartner almost makes amends for his shonky clearance with a raking 20-yard shot from the right of the D that whistles past Gunok and inches past the post.
08:05 PM BST
2 min: Austria 0 Turkey 1
Austria, in red, kicked off playing from right to left and immediately Sabitzer glides forward down the inside-left and tries to slip a pass down the channel into the box for Arnautovic that just skipped ahead of him. Gunok gathered then sparked a counter with Guler and Yilmaz bombing down the right to earn a corner from which they scored.
08:01 PM BST
GOAL!
Austria 0 Turkey 1 (Demiral) Oh my word! A 57 second goal from a coener, swung in from the right. It’s whipped under the crossbar and heading in. Posch scuffs it the wrong way, Pentz tries to claw it away and can’t. Demiral pounces from six yards to slam it into the roof of the net.
07:57 PM BST
Out come the teams
Turkey’s anthem is first and given the overwhelming majority of support, it doesn’t come across loudly on TV at all. In fact you can hear the players singing.
Same for Austria. Must be a microphone issue. Or possibly my headphones.
07:52 PM BST
Arnie with the armband
07:31 PM BST
This piece on Ralf Rangnick is highly recommended
November 20, 2022. Austria had just beaten the European champions Italy at the Ernst-Happel Stadium, less than seven months into Ralf Rangnick’s reign, and their German coach and his jubilant players and staff were in full voice on the bus on the way back to the team hotel. Rainhard Fendrich’s “I am from Austria”, the country’s unofficial national anthem, was belted out, as was anything by the much loved Austrian pop and schlager singer DJ Otzi. This was one party no one wanted to end and so Rangnick, sensing as much as the hotel loomed into view, made a beeline for the driver and instructed him to circle Vienna for another 45 minutes.
The mood was no less buoyant last week when the squad, having pitched up at Schlachtensee lake on the edge of the Grunewald forest close to their Euro 2024 training base in west Berlin for a spot of stretching, decided there were better ways to spend a beautiful morning. Next thing a couple dozen players and attendant staff were in the water playing head tennis as amused locals watched on.
07:26 PM BST
In the other game in this quarter of the draw
Netherlands beat Romania 3-0 and will provide the opposition for tonight’s winners at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday night.
07:20 PM BST
Those team changes
For Turkey Kokcu, Bardakcı and Ayhan come in, the last of them taking over the captaincy from the suspended Calhanoglu. Akaydin is also banned and Ozcan is on the bench.
Ralf Rangnick brings back Danso, Mwene, Baumgartner and Laimer for Wober, Prass Grillitsch and the suspended Wimmer.
07:11 PM BST
Full line-ups
Both line up in 4-2-3-1 formations:
Austria Pentz (Brondby); Posch (Bologna), Danso (Lens), Lienhart (Freiburg), Mwene (Mainz); Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund); Laimer (Bayern Munich), Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Schmid (Werder Bremen); Arnautovic (Inter).
Turkey Gunok (Besiktas); Muldur (Fenerbahce)’ Bardakci (Galatasaray), Demiral (Al-Ahli), Kadioglu (Fenerbahce); Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Ayhan (Galatasaray); Guler (Real Madrid), Kokcu (Benfica), Yildiz (Juventus), Yilmaz (Galatasaray).
Referee Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
06:57 PM BST
Austria team news
Four changes for Austria.
A Millî Takımımızın, Avusturya karşısında sahaya çıkacak 11’i belli oldu. #BizimÇocuklar🇹🇷 #AUTvTUR
11’imiz: Mert Günok, Merih Demiral, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, İsmail Yüksek, Mert Müldür, Kenan Yıldız, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Kaan Ayhan. pic.twitter.com/QPkjJ2HRPd
— Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) July 2, 2024
06:56 PM BST
Turkey team news
Three changes:
A Millî Takımımızın, Avusturya karşısında sahaya çıkacak 11’i belli oldu. #BizimÇocuklar🇹🇷 #AUTvTUR
11’imiz: Mert Günok, Merih Demiral, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, İsmail Yüksek, Mert Müldür, Kenan Yıldız, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Kaan Ayhan. pic.twitter.com/QPkjJ2HRPd
— Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) July 2, 2024
06:48 PM BST
Here come the Austrians
06:39 PM BST
Having a wager?
Betting on the game? Take a look at these Euros betting offers and free bets.
06:36 PM BST
Predict the score
05:44 PM BST
Preview: Calm vs chaos
By Ben Green
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Austria v Turkey in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. It’s time for the battle of the dark horses.
Turkey, comically pipped as the dark horses by pundits and armchair pundits alike in 2021, have so far produced two impressive victories against Georgia and Czechia. Barring seven silly seconds of defensive confusion against Portugal, the Turks finally look to have become the underrated gems they were touted as three years ago.
Meanwhile, Austria are on fire. It is no longer just the irritating football hipster from the corner of the pub who sings their praises after a few Neck Oils, it is now most of the football community. Well, that is of course excluding the Dutch. Austria’s intimidating gegenpressing and inclusive team morale propelled them to the top of Group D, dropping points only to an unfortunate own goal in their opening fixture.
With all Turkey’s fixtures effectively being home games due to the diaspora in Germany, an electric atmosphere is to be expected. It is not a mere possibility; it is quite simply inevitable.
The temperaments of the two teams could not be more contrasting. Austria, assured, calm and collected. Turkey, frenetic, chaotic and unpredictable. Both teams play attacking, aggressive football, but with a considerably different mentality. Watching Austria is like listening to 00s indie landfill music. It is exciting, and you’re probably going to enjoy it, but ultimately you know what you’re getting. Comparatively, Turkey are more akin to giving your friend with questionable music taste the aux- there’s bound to be the occasional shocker, but they may just come through with something absolutely spectacular (ahem, Arda Guler).
Both teams will be missing players due to disciplinary issues. Turkey will be without captain Hakan Calhanoglu and central defender Samet Akaydin, while Austria are unable to call on the services of versatile Patrick Wimmer.
Source Agencies
