Second-half goals from Christoph Baumgartner and Marko Arnautović silenced a huge Polish contingent in Berlin as Austria got off the mark in Group D.
Marko Arnautović after hitting Austria’s third in Berlin
A Christoph Baumgartner strike and a Marko Arnautović penalty secured a first UEFA EURO 2024 Group D win for Austria, as the return of the talismanic Robert Lewandowski failed to bring Poland good fortune.
Key moments
9′: Trauner heads Austria in front
18′: Zalewski misses target when well placed
30′: Piątek levels from close range
60′: Lewandowski comes on to appear at his fourth EURO
67′: Baumgartner restores Austria’s advantage
78′: Arnautović makes it 3-1 from penalty spot
Match in brief: Austria come on strong
Gernot Trauner (in red) heads Austria’s opener
With Lewandowski starting on the bench, Austria were rewarded for a positive start inside ten minutes. One of two centre-backs brought into the starting line-up for this game, Gernot Trauner headed Phillipp Mwene’s cross past Wojciech Szczęsny at his near post, and with Austria composed, Poland had to scrap for a foothold.
Nicola Zalewski missed the target from a decent position on 18 minutes, but Poland found their range on the half-hour, Krzysztof Piątek first to a loose ball in the area after Jan Bednarek’s blast was blocked.
Marcel Sabitzer had a couple of decent efforts before the break, and Patrick Pentz saved from a neatly-struck Piotr Zieliński free-kick. However, with both sides needing a win, something had to give, Lewandowski introduced on the hour as both coaches made extensive second-half reshuffles.
Austria, though, stole the Polish talisman’s thunder, Baumgartner wrong-footing Szczęsny with a hit from the edge of the box on 67 minutes. Patrick Wimmer had a chance to finish it but was denied by Szczęsny on 75 minutes, yet the keeper then brought down Sabitzer when through on goal, Arnautović stepping up to convert the resulting penalty.
Vivo Player of the Match: Christoph Baumgartner (Austria)
Austria’s No19 scored a good goal with an excellent finish. Baumgartner offered good pressing and movement; he was good with the ball and creative.
Piotr Koźmiński, Poland reporter
After their opening defeat against the Netherlands, Poland still had some hope. Their style of play was promising, but this second fixture has pretty much killed any optimism as far as EURO 2024 is concerned. Mistakes in defence were costly and they were ultimately well beaten.
James Thorogood, Austria reporter
In the first instalment of a EURO-defining double-header in Berlin, Austria delivered on their promise of major improvements following the France loss, even if they did not hit the peak of their powers. Ralf Rangnick and his charges have not disguised their intention of reaching the knockout stage for a second successive EURO. Now they stand in good stead ahead of a big match against the Netherlands.
Reaction
Krzysztof Piątek makes it 1-1
Reaction
Robert Lewandowski (right) comes on for Poland
- Lewandowski has matched goalkeeper Szczęsny in becoming the second Pole to feature at four EURO final tournaments.
- Having also registered at EURO 2020, Baumgartner and Arnautović’s both scored their second EURO finals goals; two each are enough to make them Austria’s all-time EURO top scorers.
- Trauner’s only previous goal for Austria was scored in a friendly win against Luxembourg in 2020. He is the eighth Austrian to net at a EURO.
- Poland were unbeaten in their previous five matches against Austria (W3 D2). Austria’s last victory against Poland was a 4-3 away win in a friendly in May 1995.
Line-ups
Poland: Szczęsny; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Piotrowski (Moder, 46), Slisz (Grosicki, 75), Zalewski; Zieliński (Urbański, 87); Buksa (Lewandowski, 60), Piątek (Świderski, 60)
Austria: Pentz; Posch, Trauner (Danso, 59), Lienhart, Mwene (Prass, 63); Seiwald, Grillitsch (Wimmer, 46); Baumgartner (Schmidt, 81), Laimer Sabitzer; Arnautović (Gregoritsch, 81)