The Round of 16 wraps up today at EURO 2024. Here are four talking points ahead of the games that will decide the final two quarter-finalists, Romania vs. Netherlands and Austria vs. Türkiye.
By Ian King
Will the Netherlands stick with Depay, or is it time to release the Wout?
The group stage was not especially auspicious for the Netherlands. They started with a so-so win against Poland and a goalless draw against France. The four points acquired meant that qualification was in the bag before their final match against Austria. Good job, since they were beaten 3-2.
The highlight of their tournament so far was probably Wout Weghorst’s 83rd minute winner against Poland. Weghorst is a player suited to international football, the schedules for which don’t really allow for sophisticated tactical formations to be drilled in. “Lump it up to the big guy” becomes a valid tactical option.
At 6’5” tall, Wout Weghorst is a big guy. He scored against Poland and he came very close against Austria, both times from the bench. Meanwhile Memphis Depay, who has been starting, was ineffective against both Poland and France, but did score against Austria.
But that has only muted criticism of Depay rather than silencing it, and the Dutch have a reputation for speaking their minds. The jury is out on what their frame of mind might be by the time they kick off this evening.
Radu Drăgușin has seized his moment
If the Netherlands have questions over their attackers, it should also be mentioned that the most accomplished performer of Romania’s group stage was a defender, Radu Drăgușin. Romania won their group – albeit a group in which everybody ended up on four points – and he was the star of their show. He’s largely been on the bench in the Premier League for Spurs, but he seems to be making good use of his opportunity to impress.
No-one can say that Austria have had it easy, and that’s what’s so impressive about them
That Austria have played some of the most expansive and progressive football seen at this tournament is an irony that may not have been lost at Old Trafford. This sort of thing, presumably, was why Manchester United approached Ralf Rangnick in the first place.
Turns out that the head coach might not have been the issue there after all, and the same could be said for Marcel Sabitzer, who was loaned to United to little effect, but who has absolutely purred throughout this tournament. And all this with injury problems before the tournament which included losing David Alaba.
Winning a group containing France and the Netherlands has turned a lot of attention upon Austria. No-one could say that they’ve had it easy, but they deserve it; they’re starting to be talked of as among the favourites, and rightly so.
Türkiye can’t afford another collective headloss against Austria
Türkiye may have won their game against Czechia to get through to this stage, but it’s unlikely that this is what this match will be remembered for. The 18 yellow cards (plus two reds) set a new tournament record for one match, and eleven of those yellows were claimed by Türkiye, a full team’s worth.
Sometimes games do just combust, and this isn’t a combustion that the Turks can afford again. Czechia turned out to be lumpen, one of the least inspiring teams in the entire tournament, but Austria have been one of the most impressive of all. There have been one or two gaps behind Austria’s high press. There are gaps to exploit. But it takes discipline, and Türkiye didn’t show much of that against Czechia.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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