BERLIN: Austria boosted their hopes of reaching the Euro 2024 knockout rounds on Friday as Marko Arnautovic scored in an impressive 3-1 win over Poland, for whom Robert Lewandowski only managed an ineffective substitute appearance. Ralf Rangnick’s Austria will likely secure qualification for the last 16 if they can avoid defeat in their final Group D game against the Netherlands on Tuesday. Poland can no longer finish in the top two and need to defeat France to have any chance of progressing as one of the four best third-placed teams.

However, they will be out before that game if the Dutch fail to beat France later Friday. “Since I’ve been Austria coach that’s the most important match we have had,” said Austria coach Rangnick. “That’s why we’re so happy with the win... but also with the performance.” Gernot Trauner headed Austria into a deserved early lead before Krzysztof Piatek, who had missed their opening loss to the Netherlands, equalized for Poland in the 30th minute. Lewandowski was introduced for his first appearance of the tournament with half an hour remaining, but was a peripheral figure as Poland slipped to the brink of elimination.

Christoph Baumgartner put Austria back in front after a fine team move and an end-to-end game was killed off by Arnautovic’s 78th-minute penalty. “The whole nation deserves this,” said Baumgartner, who celebrated his goal with Rangnick. “He (Rangnick) supported me every day, at half-time he told me that he needed me. So this is also a thank you to him.” Austria, who reached the knockout phase at a major tournament for the first time since 1954 at Euro 2020, will be sure of going through if they defeat the Dutch. — AFP