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On June 26, Beijing time, Austrian football wrote a new chapter on the stage of the European Championship this summer. In Group D, they won the group with an impressive performance, with 2 wins and 1 loss and 6 points, beating the traditional giants France and the Netherlands. It was the first time since 1978 that Austria had qualified as group winners in a major international competition, making a historic breakthrough. In the group stage, Austria beat Poland 3-1 and then thrashed the Netherlands 3-2 in a thrilling match, and although a 1-0 defeat to France in the final round was enough to secure a place at the top of the group. With their tenacious defense and efficient counter-attacks, the Austrian team showed their true colors as a dark horse, adding infinite anticipation to the journey of the knockout stage.
France is on a steady track, relegating to second place but keeping the goal unchanged
Defending champions France had a slightly tortuous journey in Group D, but with a solid run of one win and two draws, they eventually secured second place in the group with five points. France's path to qualification was not easy, with a narrow 1-0 win over Austria in the opening game, followed by a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands, and a 1-1 draw with Poland in the final round that cost them a chance to win the top spot, but it was enough to guarantee them progress to the knockout rounds. Despite failing to top the group, France have always been aiming to defend their European Championship title, and reaching the knockout stages means they have a chance to prove themselves once again. Next, France will face the second-placed team in Group E, and every step will be a test of their championship credentials.
The Netherlands have had their ups and downs, and the hope of staying third in the group is renewed
The performance of the Dutch team in the group stage can be described as twists and turns, with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss accumulating 4 points, and finally ranked third in the group and was lucky to qualify. Despite a poor start to the season with a 2-1 defeat to Austria, the Orange then found their form and showed what they were once a football powerhouse with a 2-0 win over Poland. However, the draw with France cost them the initiative to qualify directly, and they could only hope for a third-place finish in their better group. The Dutch team's next knockout stage will be challenging, but their wealth of experience and deep football heritage make it impossible for any opponent to take lightly.
Poland is unfortunately out of the tournament and still needs to work hard in the future
Poland's journey in Group D ended in a dismal end with one draw, two defeats and one point, and despite having world-class striker Robert Lewandowski in the squad, they looked struggling against Austria, the Netherlands and France. Despite a draw against France, the point was not enough to change their bottom of the group. Poland's exit is a reminder that more needs to be done in terms of overall tactics and squad depth if they are to make a difference in international tournaments.
Knockout outlook: France face a death half-zone challenge
As the dust settles on Group D, France's prospects for a knockout round are in the spotlight. They will face the runners-up of Group E in the quarter-finals, while potential quarter-finals opponents include traditional powerhouses such as Portugal, Spain or Germany. Such a picture of the match undoubtedly indicates that the French team will step into the "death half", and every step forward will be severely tested. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for France, who are looking to defend their title, and they will have to perform at their best in every game if they are to hope to repeat the glory of 2016.
Summary: The competition in Group D is not only a competition of the strength of each team, but also a contest of tactical wisdom and mental toughness. Austria's impressive performance, France's steady progress, the Netherlands' ups and downs and Poland's disappointing exit have all woven the story of this summer's European Championships. In the next knockout round, every battle will be a new starting point, whether it is Austria's dark horse journey or France's championship defense, it is worth our continued attention and anticipation. The excitement of the European Championship has just begun.