Berlin – After the second win within the second match on the European Soccer Championship, Polish famous person Robert Lewandowski put his fingers on his hips in disappointment and remained in house for a very long time. A number of hours later, his group’s elimination from Group D was official.
After the 0-0 draw between France and the Netherlands this night in Leipzig, Lewandowski and his group can’t soar to one of many high three locations that might allow them to succeed in the knockout rounds.
The Poles themselves beforehand misplaced their match towards Austria in Berlin 1:3 (1:1). The famous person, who got here on after an hour and made a lightning comeback after recovering from a torn muscle fiber, was unable to forestall victory.
The Austrian followers sang “I Am From Austria” to Rainhard Fendrich’s traditional after the sport. Coach Ralf Rangnick cheered energetically. The Alpine Republic now has a superb likelihood of reaching the spherical of 16.
The Austrians flip up the strain
Gernot Trauner gave Austria the lead within the ninth minute with the Alpine Republic’s quickest objective on the European Championships. Former Herthan participant Krzysztof Piatek, who was allowed to play within the beginning line instead of Lewandowski, equalized after half an hour at his outdated office. When Lewandowski was on the sector, Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner (66th) and captain Marko Arnautović (78th, penalty kick) ensured Austria’s victory.
“There was loads of strain right now,” mentioned Baumgartner, who was named participant of the sport. “I believe it is so troublesome towards us once we’re so excessive and we now have to do this. Now we now have to place ourselves on high bodily in order that we are able to absolutely defend ourselves after which we are able to upset and beat the Dutch.”
70 minutes earlier than kick-off, the information got here that Lewandowski was not match sufficient for the beginning eleven. The most recent statements from these accountable not too long ago urged that the 35-year-old former skilled could be match to begin within the ultimate European Championship check towards Turkey eleven days after struggling a muscle pressure tore in his thigh.
Lewandowski offers recommendations on the bench
Apparently, nothing has modified intellectually for Austria’s coach, Ralf Rangnick. “We did not discuss it in any respect,” the German coach mentioned on ARD shortly earlier than kick-off. He needs to remain true to his attacking fashion of play regardless of the 0-1 opening defeat towards France: “Our greatest participant is our energy”.
And that is precisely how Rangnick’s group began. The Austrians, led by the best nationwide participant of all time, Marko Arnautović, attacked the Poles aggressively of their half and steadily pursued the opening objective. After a cross from the good Mainz participant, Phillipp Mwene, the good defender Trauner headed the ball into the nook. Lewandowski seemed anxious on the bench and later mentioned one thing within the assistant coach’s ear.
The 0-1 was a wake-up name for the Poles. They have been now capable of free themselves higher from the fixed strain of the opponent they usually additionally had important possibilities. Piatek’s equalizer from shut vary was absolutely deserved. The striker celebrated his objective with a pistol celebration, which he confirmed all too hardly ever in a Hertha shirt on the Olympic Stadium. Lewandowski additionally cheered on the sidelines.
Lewandowski’s illustration is trigger for celebration
The Austrians, so dominant at first, instantly felt insecure. There was direct expertise on the pitch, with a mean age of 28 years and 217 days, in accordance with knowledge supplier Opta, the oldest beginning line-up in a European Championship ultimate in Austria. Marcel Sabitzer added a number of accents on the finish of the primary half. However Poland had an ideal likelihood to take the lead with a free kick from substitute captain Piotr Zielinski, which killed ÖFB goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.
Rangnick responded and introduced in Wolfsburg’s Patrick Wimmer for TSG Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch, a barely extra attacking midfielder. However there wasn’t a lot on both facet within the assault at first. As well as, objective scorer Trauner needed to depart the sector within the 59th minute attributable to harm.
The substitution of famous person Lewandowski was trigger for big celebrations amongst round 35,000 Polish followers. In one among his first actions, the captain acquired a yellow card for utilizing an elbow in an aerial duel with Freiburg’s Philipp Lienhart.
However issues obtained even worse for the previous Munich participant. After Baumgartner fell behind once more, the Poles elevated the strain and seemed to their high star, particularly with lengthy balls. The choice for Austria got here after an early possession and Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s foul within the penalty space on Sabitzer.