Not since the 1950s have Austria been genuinely capable of mixing with the best teams on the continent, but under Ralf Rangnick they have emerged as dark horses and as Euro 2024’s most thrilling watch.
The setting sun shone fondly on their players at Berlin's Olympiastadion last night, following a 3-2 win over Netherlands that saw them top Group D ahead of both the Dutch and France.
Few had expected that eventuality, yet Austria played the best football of the group. After losing 1-0 against France thanks to an own goal, they regrouped and beat Poland 3-1 in a show of resolve.
Their prize is a seven-day rest and recovery period before facing the runners-up in Group F — likely Turkey — in Leipzig, familiar turf for Rangnick, who twice managed RB Leipzig.
Rangnick's presence unearths memories among English viewers of his calamitous interim reign at Manchester United. The job he has done with Austria, though, has been magnificent.
The Austrian FA have been rewarded for handing the German the autonomy to shape the team in his image. They beat Italy and drew with Belgium and France ahead of this tournament, and have earned new admirers with their displays in Germany.
Austria look no weaker despite the absence of their injured Real Madrid defender David Alaba, and others stepped up last night as Rangnick rested key midfielders Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner.
Rangnick has been nicknamed 'Godfather of the Gegenpress', and his side were aptly relentless in regaining possession against the Dutch, shifting the ball quickly once they had won it back.
You can see a clear development since the coach joined the team — before, we were a bit passive
"You can see a clear development since the coach joined the team — before, we were a bit passive, but we have changed that," said captain Marcel Sabitzer.
If they get past the last 16, Austria would face the winners of Belgium's group or a third-place team in the quarter-finals. But with ex-Stoke striker Marko Arnautovic a handful for defenders and Sabitzer never afraid to showcase his shooting range, few teams will relish playing them. "We were brutally good at the beginning and rewarded for it," Rangnick said yesterday.
No such reward for Holland, whose defeat means a group winner awaits in the round of 16 — most likely England. Ronald Koeman is not blessed with an exceptional generation of Dutch players, but reasons for optimism among Oranje fans are few and far between besides the guile of 21-year-old Xavi Simons and two goals so far by Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.
France delivered another lacklustre display as they drew 1-1 against Poland, with Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe exchanging penalties.
Didier Deschamps's side, like England, are blessed with attacking riches and, like England, won 1-0 before drawing 0-0 and 1-1. Their punishment for finishing second? Landing on the same side of the draw as Portugal, Spain and Germany.
