‘Difficult to stay awake’ – Rangnick says he has been left BORED by some games at Euro 2024 and praises ‘entertaining’ Austria | OneFootball

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick says he has found it “difficult to stay awake” during some games at Euro 2024 and backed his “entertaining” Austria side to bounce back from their Euro 2024 exit.

Merih Demiral’s double sent Turkey through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 at the expense of Rangnick’s side.

Substitute Michael Gregoritsch clawed a late goal back for Austria before Turkish goalkeeper Mert Gunok produced a phenomenal save to prevent Christoph Baumgartner from levelling the score.

But Rangnick remained upbeat after the defeat, and says his Austria side have offered far more entertainment than some other teams at the competition which he believes stands them in good stead to keep progressing.

“I think the four games we played were very entertaining including today’s game,” he said.

“Not everything went accurately. We could have played a few passes better but they were four very entertaining games, very intense, super intense.

“I’ve seen other games where it was difficult to even stay awake and that was not the case with our games.

“Now we need to take it with us into the Nations League and then into the World Cup qualification. If we continue to play the way we have in these four games then we have a good chance to qualify for the World Cup.”

Rangnick was also asked if Mert’s save reminded him of the legendary stop Gordon Banks made to keep out Pele at the 1970 World Cup to which he simply replied: “That is correct.

“We didn’t have the necessary luck. I believe if the game had gone into extra time, we would have had a chance to win the game because I think Turkey were fairly exhausted at the end and we had a physical advantage.

“We didn’t score enough goals or create enough chances and in the set pieces we didn’t defend very well. At the second one, we had three players who were very good at headers but Demiral still scored.

“And if you’re behind two goals then things aren’t any easier. The team tried everything, we then scored one goal and we had enough time to achieve a draw but it’s difficult if you have Gordon Banks in the goal.”

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