Demiral’s Heroics
Turkey defeated Austria 2-1 in Leipzig to advance to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals and face the Netherlands. However, in stoppage time, Mert Gunok, he waslater compared to Gordon Banks by Ralf Rangnick. He had to make a spectacular save. Merih Demiral scored twice for Turkey.
In their last two games, Austria had taken the lead within the first ten minutes, but now they were losing. The teenage sensation Arda Guler whipped in a corner that goalie Patrick Pentz was unable to handle, and Demiral scored.
It was the fastest goal in the history of the European Championship knockout stages, clocking in at just 57 seconds. Austria, led by Ralf Rangnick, was considered a favourite after their impressive 6-1 victory over Turkey in March. However, their opponents proved to be formidable.
Austria never managed to draw. Even after Marko Arnautovic wasted a fantastic opportunity to equalise by failing to lift the ball over the custodian. Just before the hour, Demiral nodded in another excellent Guler corner, seemingly giving Turkey complete control of the match.
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch did capitalise on a knockdown to equalise and set up a thrilling finish. Turkey’s Gunok made the tournament’s best save to deny Christoph Baumgartner in the closing seconds of a thrilling game.
Guler’s Corners
Playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu was out due to suspension. Head coach Vincenzo Montella of Turkey faced a challenge in finding some fluency. He succeeded in doing so with the support of players of the highest calibre on both ends of the pitch.
Demiral was named player of the match, but Guler, who is 19 years old, deserves all the credit for both goals. Austria could not keep up with his inswinging corners, which proved crucial in Turkey’s victory in this tie. Gunok was necessary to see it through.
From Hero to Villain
Merih Demiral, the defender for Turkey, received a two-match ban for giving an ultra-nationalist salute during his team’s victory over Austria in the Euro 2024.
Turkey defeated Austria 2-1 on Saturday to secure a quarterfinal berth against the Netherlands, with Demiral, 26, scoring both of their goals.
The defender for Al-Ahli celebrated his second goal with a “wolf salute,” a motion connected to the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves, which is connected to the National Movement Party, the party that leads Turkey’s coalition government.
Demiral claimed that the salute is prohibited in France and Austria . It was prepared in case he scored during the round of sixteen.
The European Football Association, or Uefa, brought charges against him for allegedly not abiding by general principles of conduct, breaking the fundamentals of decent behaviour, using sporting events for non-sporting activities, and defaming the game of football.
Jude Bellingham made a crotch-grabbing gesture to celebrate scoring in England’s last-16 victory over Slovakia, but he is free to play in Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland.
The 21-year-old midfielder for Real Madrid has been fined £25,400 (30,000 euros) and will miss one match due to suspension.
In response to Demiral’s sanction on X, Osman Askın Bak, Turkey’s minister of youth and sports, said:
“We condemn Uefa’s unfair and biased decision, which we believe has no legal basis and is entirely political.
“We will continue to seek our rights through legal means against this double standard applied to our country and our national football player Merih Demiral.
“We believe in our football players. They will also give the necessary answer on the field.”
Before Saturday’s match, Vincenzo Montella, the coach of Turkey, quoted the minister.
“We consider it unfair, this ban, because there was not a political gesture. It was interpreted as such but it was just something that was not properly understood,” he said.
“It’s certainly not a ban that puts the breaks on Turkish pride, quite the opposite – it will be even stronger.
“It’s a symbol of the Turks and the Turks around the world and it will remain just that. Tomorrow that pride will definitely be more evident on the pitch, in the stands and with those watching on television.”
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