More than a few eyebrows were raised when Austria hired manager Ralf Rangnick in 2022 after a miserable stint at Manchester United, but the 66-year-old German has turned Austria into Euro 2024 contenders and earned the nation's respect.
Austria, one of the biggest stories of the tournament after upending tough opponents France and the Netherlands to win their group, play Turkey in the round of 16 today.
After a hard-fought 1-0 loss to World Cup runners-up France, Austria reeled off a 3-1 victory over Poland and a 3-2 win over star-studded Netherlands to clinch a knockout berth for only the second time.
Rangnick inherited an Austrian team that had failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They were playing uninspiring football and Austrians had fallen out of love with their team.
Rangnick, who has influenced coaches such as Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, is known as the "Godfather of gegenpressing," the tactic of fierce counter-pressing to win the ball back fast, and preferably high up the pitch.
The Austria he now leads have a free-flowing, risk-taking style that has stood out from the more conservative group-stage approaches of sides such as England and Belgium and made them one of the most entertaining teams to watch.
While Austria thrashed Turkey 6-1 in a friendly in March, they are expecting a tougher challenge from their opponents - who advanced to the knockout round for the first time since 2008 - in Leipzig.
Turkey are also riding some momentum after Cenk Tosun came off the bench to strike deep into added time and give them a win over 10-man Czechia, a result that clinched their last 16 spot.
"We are rejoiced, personally I'm proud and happy for contribute bringing a joy for our hundreds of thousands of fans, millions of fans," said Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella after their progression.
"So we are all relieved, players were relieved after the final whistle, also after Cenk's goal so we are very happy. We could have suffered a bit less, we have complicated our lives for the reasons I've mentioned but in this case, the joy is even greater and true. Emotions are more lively."
Tosun's winner in stoppage time, sparked wild scenes on his bench and among Turkish fans. The result banished the Turks' dark memories of Euro 2020 where they went home after conceding eight goals in three defeats.
"It's a very good feeling, so for us Turks who are born and raised in Germany, it's a very special feeling that our national team is here with us," said Turkish fan Sinan Uzuner amid joyous scenes in Hamburg after that win.
"We also support Germany, but Turkey as well, and it's an amazing evening for us and we are very happy."
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