Surprises Euro 2024 which took place in Germany. A number of countries with FIFA rankings in the top 40 in the world have managed to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024.
For example, Turkey which is now ranked 42nd in the world, Slovakia (45th), Romania (47th), Slovenia (57th) and Georgia (74th). Romania even achieved an extraordinary achievement. These Eastern European representatives qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 as winners of Group E, ahead of the third ranked team in the world who finished as runners-up, Belgium.
Apart from the countries above, there is another team that is truly surprising, Austria. Joined in Group D with France, the Netherlands and Poland, Austria is predicted to finish at the bottom of the group.
At best, Austria is thought to have finished third in Group D behind France and the Netherlands. Signs of Austria finishing as bottom were seen on the first matchday after Ralf Rangnick’s squad lost 0-1 to France on the first matchday.
At the same time, the Netherlands won dramatically 2-1 over Poland in another match in Group D Euro 2024. However, Austria scored extraordinary things in the two matches that followed.
Marko Arnautovic and friends won 3-1 over Poland and beat the Netherlands 3-2! As a result, Austria finished as winner of Group D with a collection of six points, one point ahead of France in second place and two points ahead of the Netherlands in third place.
Compact Loses in the Last 16 of Euro 2024?
The teams above couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief for long. Tough opponents are waiting for them in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 which starts tonight.
Slovenia is challenged by the Euro 2016 champion, Portugal. Slovakia was met with Group C winners, England. Romania is facing the Euro 1988 champions who are also known by Indonesian netizens as the Central National Team, the Dutch National Team. Georgia, who beat Portugal in the group phase, will be challenged by the perfect team, the Spanish National Team.
There is only one recorded match that brings together dark horse teams, namely Austria vs Türkiye. Okezone predicts that there will only be one dark horse team that will reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, namely Austria or Turkey.
Meanwhile, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania and Georgia will fall out of the last 16 of Euro 2024. True, anything can happen in football, but the big teams are motivated to show their existence at this quadrennial event.
The Big Motivation of the European Top Team
England, France, the Netherlands and Portugal failed to steal the show in the group phase. The England, France and Netherlands national teams only scored one win from three group stage matches.
Even the strong English team only scored one goal in three matches. What about the Portuguese national team?
Cristiano Ronaldo and his friends won the first two matches in Group F. However, on the final matchday of Group F, Portugal lost 0-2 to Georgia.
A series of bad results in the group phase has given the top teams the motivation to get up. They certainly don’t want to just pass by at this four-yearly event.
Especially Cristiano Ronaldo. This 39 year old footballer certainly wants to close his career in the national team by winning the Euro 2024 trophy.
Apart from England and friends, there are still Spain and Italy whose movements are highly anticipated at Euro 2024. Spain can be said to be the strongest team at the moment based on their performance and style of play in the first three matches.
The La Furia Roja squad – the Spanish nickname – was the only team to wipe out three matches with a win. Luis de la Fuente’s team successively beat Croatia 3-0, as well as winning 1-0 over Italy and Albania. Meanwhile, Italy, they are trying to maintain the status of defending champions in this edition.
Where will Austria go?
The Austrian national team is predicted to be the dark horse team that will advance furthest at Euro 2024. Austria’s only opponent in the last 16 will be Turkey. If they qualify for the quarter-finals, Marcel Sabitzer and his friends will challenge the winner of the Romania vs Netherlands match.
Only in the semifinals, tough opponents await them. England and Italy have the potential to be Austria’s opponents in the semifinals of Euro 2024.
In conclusion, Austria has the opportunity to become the dark horse team that will advance furthest in Euro 2024. However, their progress will not go further than the semifinals, considering that the big teams will be in the way from the quarter-finals.
