ÖFB-U21 lose against Turkey

The U21 European Championship in 2021 will probably take place without the participation of Austria. The ÖFB national team had to admit defeat 2: 3 after a 1-0 lead in Samsun, Turkey on Friday and thus conceded their fourth defeat in the ninth game of Group 3. Team boss Werner Gregoritsch’s team is before the last The game is still runner-up, but with its points balance it will not be in the top five finalists at the end.

In addition to the group winners, they will get a ticket to next year’s two-part finals in Hungary and Slovenia. Halil Dervisoglu became the nail in the coffin of the ÖFB team. The 20-year-old Twente-Enschede striker scored all three goals (64, 81, 92) for the Turks. For Austria, Kelvin Arase’s first goal (36th), his first goal in the Under-21 kit, as well as a free kick made directly by German legionnaire Hannes Wolf to mean 2-2 (90th) was very little.

The final duel with the Andorran rear driver on Tuesday (8:25 pm) at Ried no longer has the “final character” that was expected.

Guests had much more of the game in the first half, but maximum chances were still rare, as the last pass often did not come or the actions were not played correctly until the end. But once we were able to cheer up, thanks to the active Turkish help. Ridvan Yilmaz lost the ball outside the penalty area, Arase reacted quickly, grabbed the leather and finished with the “Spitz” in the corner.

The U21 team fails to qualify for the European Championship

Even after the break, there were many indications of the ÖFB’s second 1-0 win in Kosovo. However, after an hour, the home team clearly took over and caused big problems for Kevin Danso and company. Goalkeeper Fabian Ehmann could barely avoid the equalizer with a brilliant save on a shot from Bünyamin Balci (63). The 1: 1 started with the next corner. Ehmann couldn’t defend himself from a Yalcin degree and Dervisoglu dusted off all five in the empty goal.

Even if Christoph Klarer (78th) was dangerous with the head, the next goal fell from the other side. Manuel Thurnwald and Klarer didn’t have Dervisoglu under control and he hit the far corner carefully. In an exciting final phase, “Joker” Patrick Schmidt (87th) gave up 2: 2 first, which Wolf then managed to convert from a free kick from almost 20 meters using an inside bar.

Since even a draw would have been too small for a participation in the European Championship, the Austrians tried everything again. The goal was scored by the Turks. Dervisoglu capped off a dream performance with his third goal.

Gregoritsch, ÖFB coach: “Bitter defeat”

ÖFB team boss Werner Gregoritsch spoke after 2: 3 in Samsun of “my bitterest loss as a coach”. Unlike 2019, you are only a spectator at the final of the European Championship in 2021. “It has been proven that it is not enough to have a generation of good footballers. There are many little things involved, because football is unpredictable and always brings surprises” said Styrian, 62.

The ÖFB coach did not want to blame his kickers. “They were the best team, they gave their all and created many opportunities. What was lacking was efficiency and that is one of the decisive factors in a game like this,” Gregoritsch analyzed.

Defensive player Kevin Danso was upset about this too. “We did everything, we were very dominant, especially in the first half, and we should have led higher. After the break, we were bitterly punished for negligence,” said the 22-year-old kicker from Düsseldorf. He is very sorry for the boys. “I’ve already been to a U21 EURO and I know what a great experience it is. Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve our goals.”

Turkey – Austria 3: 2 (0: 1)

Tore: Dervisoglu (64, 81, 92) resp. Arase (36 °), Wolf (90 ° / Free kick)

Austria played with: Ehmann – Thurnwald, Klarer, Maresic, Schnegg – Danso, Wöber – Arase, Grüll (70th Adamu), Wolf – Nussbaumer (57th Schmidt)

European Under-21 Championship qualification: Group C table