Austria pickpocket the Dutch to go top of Group D

June 25 – Austria overcame Netherlands in a pulse-raising five-goal thriller in Berlin, to go top of group D as France could only manage a draw with Poland.

Donyell Malen’s unfortunate own goal marked the difference between the two sides, but with four points the Dutch had already qualified for the last 16.

Shuffling his formation from the one that fired blanks against France, Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman swapped out full back Denzel Dumfries, Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and talented youngster Xavi Simons for Feyernoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida, Dortmund’s Donyell Malen and PSV’s Joey Veerman.

The changes marked a different style for the Dutch, who were eager to establish more control than the 37% possession registered against France. All three players looked like the wrong options, though, as Donyell Malen scored the opener into his own net and Joey Veerman was subbed after just 35 minutes in.

Koeman adapted his favoured 4-2-3-1 shape into a classic 4-3-3, with a focus on remaining more flexible in possession – a tactic that was quickly ditched with the introduction of Xavi Simons to replace the hapless Veerman.

On the other side of the dugout, Rangnick chose to move star man Marcel Sabitzer back into his favoured central role, dropping Saturday’s Man of the Match Christopher Baumgartner for Patrick Wimmer who also impressed during his second-half stint versus Poland.

Baumgartner was left as un unused substitute for the match – perhaps with one eye on staying fresh for knockout football to come.

Last week’s goalscorer Gernot Trauner was also dropped, likely due to carrying a knock which saw him exit the pitch early. In his place stood Maximilian Wober – the man who cost Austria a point versus France with an own goal.

Memphis Depay of the Netherlands celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Wout Weghorst 

Another familiar face, Konrad Laimer, gave way to eventual goalscorer Romano Schmid in midfield as the final…

Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/25/austria-pickpocket-dutch-go-top-group-d/

Author : Paul Nicholson

Publish date : 2024-06-25 18:53:07

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