Loading...
In the third round of Group D of the European Cup, the battle between Austria and the Netherlands is not only a key battle related to the group standings, but also a battle of tactics and will. In the end, Austria won 3-2 against the Netherlands, a victory that not only allowed Austria to occupy the top spot in the group, but also forced the Dutch team to fight for the right to qualify as third in the group, and at the same time, the result also squeezed France into the top half of the bracket, adding more uncertainty to the next knockout round.
The Netherlands' starting line-up and tactical arrangement are undoubtedly one of the focal points of this European Championship Group D third round match. Head coach Koeman made a bold change down the right flank, with Malen and Hetleida starting the line-up, revealing his intention to launch a strong attack down the right. Mullen was tasked with creating a threat in the opposition half, while Hetleida was deployed near the halfway line to better support the transition.
De Vrij's protection on the right and his stance relatively far back on the left formed the Dutch defensive system for this game. However, it backfired, and Koeman's tactical arrangement did not have the desired effect, instead making the left side of the Dutch team the main point of attack for the opponents. Gakpo's goal and excellent performance throughout the game proved to be a glaring hole in the Dutch defence. And Mullen's own goal made the situation of the Dutch team even worse.
The course of the game is tense and uncertain. Gakpo's curling goal gave the Netherlands hope of an equaliser, but then a hole-in-law on the right was caught by Austria, and Schmid's header gave Austria the lead again. Faced with an unfavorable situation, the Dutch team made substitutions and tried to change the trend of the game by changing the formation. With Ake and Reynders off and Wijnaldum and Donny van der Ven coming on, Koeman tried to turn things around by increasing his control in midfield. But the performance of the starting right-back Hetleida was a disaster, with his mistakes leading to a number of goalscoring chances and leaving the Dutch defence vulnerable to Austria's attack.
The result of this match was a heavy blow for the Dutch team. Third place in the group means they will face tougher opponents in the knockout rounds, whether it is possible Group B champions Spain, Group C champions England or Group E champions Belgium, each match will be a serious test of their strength and will. Austria, meanwhile, have had a relatively easy path to qualify, with a possible Group F runners-up Turkey, who are clearly under much less pressure than the Netherlands' potential opponents.
In this exciting match, Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance. His playmaking and passing ability not only provided strong support for Austria's attack, but was also a key factor in the team's eventual victory. Sabitzer's performance has undoubtedly proved his value as a midfielder and his impact on the game.
The points rules for the group stage of the European Championship are as follows:
Each team gets 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss;
At the end of the group stage, if there are two or more teams with the same number of points, they will be ranked in the following order: the one with the most points between the two matches will be ranked first; The one with the most goal difference in the group stage is ranked first; The one with the most goals in the group stage is ranked first; The player with the most away goals in each other's matches is ranked first; If all of the above judgment data are the same, the two teams will decide the ranking through a penalty shootout;
The top two teams from the six groups and the four best group finishes will qualify for the knockout rounds.
Summing up the game, we can see that the outcome of a football match often depends on the tactical arrangement and the on-the-spot performance of the players. The defeat of the Dutch team showed us that even strong teams can get into trouble because of tactical mistakes. Austria's victory demonstrated the cohesion and combat effectiveness of their team.
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts on the game and their comments on the performance of both teams. Let's discuss and think about how to better cope with challenges in football and how to find the possibility of victory in the face of adversity. Through such interactions, we can better understand the complexity and charm of the game, and we can also contribute to the healthy development of football.