In a hard-fought Group D encounter at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Austria earned their first win of the 2024 European Championship with a 3-1 victory over Poland.
The result keeps Austria’s hopes of progression alive while dealing a major blow to Poland’s aspirations in the tournament.
Ralf Rangnick’s side responded emphatically to their opening-game defeat against France, starting the match with a high-intensity press that paid dividends early on.
Full-back Phillipp Mwene’s pinpoint cross was met with a brilliant glancing header by Gernot Trauner, giving Austria the lead after just 9 minutes.
However, Poland’s resilience shone through, and they managed to equalise just before the half-hour mark. Jan Bednarek’s shot rebounded off Trauner, falling kindly for Krzysztof Piatek, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net to level the scores. The first half ended with the scores level.
The second half saw a tactical battle unfold, with both sides struggling to gain a clear upper hand. But it was Austria who struck the decisive blow, as Christoph Baumgartner’s composed finish from the edge of the box put them back in front midway through the half.
The match was put to bed in the closing stages when Marcel Sabitzer’s surging run was capped off by a foul from Wojciech Szczesny, allowing Marko Arnautovic to confidently convert the resulting penalty and secure the three points for Austria.
Ralf Rangnick will be delighted with his side’s response, as they showcased their quality and resilience to bounce back from the opening-game defeat against Les Bleus.
The victory keeps Austria firmly in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages, while Poland’s chances of progressing have taken a significant hit.
The victors face the Netherlands next, while Poland will have a steep hill to climb when they face France in their last group game. Both games will take place on Tuesday, June 25th.
