Test Matches Before Euro Cup: Austria and Switzerland Victorious, Hungary Weak, Italy Draws, Turkey Concerned
As the countdown to the opening match of the Euro Cup in Germany begins, the opponents of the German national team present a mixed picture. Switzerland secures a clear victory, while Hungary experiences something unfamiliar. Ralf Rangnick and the Austrians have reasons to celebrate.
Austria is in good shape just before the European Championship in Germany. Under the guidance of coach Ralf Rangnick, the team showed a strong performance in the early stages of their 2-1 victory against Serbia in the penultimate test match. Despite some moments of tension, Austria reaffirmed its role as a dark horse in the tournament. Patrick Wimmer (VfL Wolfsburg) and Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig) quickly secured a 2-0 lead for Austria, with Serbia managing only to score one goal. Austria will face France, Poland, and the Netherlands in the challenging Group D.
Switzerland, another opponent of Germany, also achieved a convincing victory ten days before the tournament. The team, coached by Murat Yakin, defeated Estonia 4-0 with goals from Steven Zuber, Zeki Amdouni, Nico Elvedi, and Xherdan Shaqiri. Germany will face Switzerland in their final group stage match.
In contrast, Hungary suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to Ireland, their first defeat since September 2022. Despite a goal from Adam Lang, Troy Parrott secured a late victory for Ireland. Hungary will face Israel in their final test match before the Euro Cup.
Italy, the reigning European champions, faced a goalless draw against Turkey in their recent test match. Turkey, on the other hand, remains winless in four games since their victory against Germany. Italy will play Bosnia-Herzegovina in their final preparation match, while Turkey will face Poland with concerns about Ozan Kabak’s potential injury.
As the Euro Cup approaches, teams are fine-tuning their strategies and lineups to compete in the highly anticipated tournament. Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, and Turkey are all facing unique challenges and opportunities as they prepare to showcase their skills on the international stage.