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.