Alaba-Inspired Austria Set to Upset Italy for a Q’Final Place

Against all odd Austria inspired by the Austro-Nigerian born Captain David Alaba progressed from the group stage in an Euro championship for the first time in their history and would be craving for more against a well-knitted Italy that are yet to concede a goal so far in the tournament

Having emerged as one of the tournament favourites, Italy meet unfancied Austria at Wembley today, in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

While the Azzurri’s sparkling start to the championships has continued a record-equalling unbeaten run, the Austrians are into the knockout phase for the first time ever, after finally ending their Euros drought with two group-stage wins.

Keeping expectations in check may be Italy’s most difficult task heading into the latter stages of this summer’s European Championships, as an 11th win in a row last time out helped them extend their undefeated streak to a total of 30 games. Tying a national record set back in the 1930s under legendary coach Vittorio Pozzo, the 1-0 victory over Wales was scant reward for their shadow side’s complete domination last Sunday.

Roberto Mancini managed to keep his team’s momentum going despite wholesale changes – with eight of the previous starting XI dropping out – to claim maximum points once again, following back-to-back 3-0 victories over Turkey and Switzerland.

However, their prize for cruising through as winners of Group A is a place in the more challenging side of the draw, as they will face Belgium or Portugal in the next round should they progress, and then potentially France, Spain or Croatia in a semi-final.

First, though, La Nazionale must leave their Roman stronghold at StadioOlimpico to meet Austria on neutral turf. Nonetheless, they will travel north in the knowledge that no Italian team has lost to their neighbours since 1960, and they have emerged as winners in each of the nations’ four major tournament meetings.

Yet to concede a goal in the competition, a clearly united squad – in which even substitute goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has been awarded a handful of minutes – have not only proved an entertaining prospect for neutrals, but also shown they are made of stern stuff at the back. In fact, the last time Italy failed to keep a clean sheet was in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last October – over 1,000 minutes of football ago.

The four-time world champions have now reached 10 straight wins for only the second time in their illustrious history – the first such streak having come during qualifying and have not lost at all since 2018, so are in pole position to sweep past their Alpine counterparts this weekend.
With the odds already stacked against them due to a gulf in world ranking and historic stature, Austria will potentially tackle their first-ever knockout fixture in European Championship history with few partisan fans present at ‘the home of football’.

Earlier this week, their football federation urged supporters not to travel to London for the clash with Italy, after they unsuccessfully attempted to have the match moved from England due to health and safety concerns.

As there is also a quarantine requirement for Austrians travelling to and from London, the prospect of Das Team being roared on by thousands of success-starved fans may be diminished, but they will at least arrive there having risen to the challenge of escaping Group C by beating Ukraine last time out.

While Austria would still have qualified along with their opponents had they drawn, in the end they deserved to win by more than just Christoph Baumgartner’s first-half goal, which left coach Franco Foda enthused about his team’s unprecedented achievement.
After the match, Foda noted that his squad had been determined “to write history” and progress through the first stage of any major tournament for the first time since their notorious 1982 World Cup campaign.

In fact, the former West Germany international has hardly taken a wrong step while at the helm; guiding the Austrians to League A promotion in the Nations League and through the Euro 2020 qualifiers since his appointment at the start of 2018.
The Mainz-born tactician now leads his adopted nation into a tantalising last-16 encounter, still seeking to offer his star man David Alaba a settled role in the side.

Wherever he plays, the Real Madrid-bound 29-year-old – known for his versatility which has seen him play at left-back, in central midfield and on either flank – will be essential to his country’s hopes of causing a seismic upset this evening. Having tasted Wembley glory once before in 2013, when Bayern beat Dortmund there in the Champions League final, the captain’s presence may even be enough to keep the Austrian dream alive.
Meanwhile, Johan CruijffArenA in Amsterdam plays host to the first of the Euro 2020 last-16 ties this evening as Wales take on Denmark.

Wales finished second to Italy in Group A, while Denmark defied the odds to finish as runners-up to Belgium in Group B despite losing their first two games.
Five years on from their memorable run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Wales have a chance to create more happy memories after reaching the knockouts in successive tournaments.
The Dragons lost 1-0 to Italy in their final group match, but that is a result Rob Page likely would have accepted ahead of the match as it ensured his side remained in second.
Page was able to rotate his side for the Italy game, which was the Dragons’ second loss in 16 competitive matches. Not since June 2019 have they lost successive competitive games.
However, Wales have lost their only two previous matches in Amsterdam – against the Netherlands in 1988 and 2014 – and they will not have any supporters present in the ground.
COVID-19 travel restrictions have prevented the ‘Red Wall’ from making the trip, whereas Denmark supporters will be allowed to attend en masse in what should be a huge advantage.

Denmark will also have the backing of the neutrals, no doubt, given the events that unfolded in their opening group match against Finland.

The sight of Christian Eriksen being resuscitated on the field will live long in the memory of those who watched on, not least the playmaker’s own teammates.

This will be the Red and White’s first appearance in the latter stages of the Euros since 2004, and like on that occasion they will be aiming to reach at least the quarter-finals.

Denmark have won their last three competitive meetings with Wales in a run stretching back to June 1999, though this is the first meeting between the sides at a major tournament.