As the sun serenely sank in beautiful Berlin, generating a golden glow that sauntered around the Olympiastadion, Austria were having a party.
“Oh, isn’t it nice,” they sang again and again. “Oh, isn’t it nice, we haven’t seen something this nice in so long, oh, isn’t it nice.”
If more than 40 years constitutes “so long” then you can well appreciate the exultant scenes after a fantastically fun 3-2 win over the Netherlands, a result that elevated Austria’s status as outside favourites to, yes, win Euro 2024.
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Ralf Rangnick’s side went into the game still not certain of a place in the last 16 but ended the evening as group winners and forged what looks like a very navigable route through one, even two knockout rounds.
They did so with a terrific performance of adventure, flair and courage. They don’t play until Tuesday… the post-match party could last until then.
“Honestly, it’s not a surprise to us,” said fan Stefan, whose confidence may or may not be bolstered by having polished off a few steins.
“Results have been very good for a while since Rangnick came. It’s been a long time since we felt like this so that’s why the party is so loud.”
It must feel strange for supporters who have waited an inexorably long time for a team with real quality and substance to believe in and get behind. Especially for a footballing nation that can have confidence issues.
Austria’s great eras are only remembered in history books as they came on either side of the Second World War. Austria could claim to have one of the best teams in the world in the 1930s, the ‘Wunderteam’ that were unbeaten for 14 games but didn’t win a World Cup, surprisingly losing to Italy in the 1934 semi-finals, then esteemed manager Hugo Meisl passed away and the nation was annexed by Germany in 1938.
Post-war, they were good again at the 1954 World Cup but again lost in a semi-final, this time a 6-1 defeat to Germany. Then nothing for two decades before the 1978 World Cup in Argentina when they beat a Germany side for the first time in 47 years in the second group stage (effectively the quarter-finals). The result knocked out West Germany, but Austria went home too, bottom of the table. It’s called the ‘Miracle of Cordoba’ back home and is regarded as the high point of the last half-century of Austrian international football, which, considering they didn’t go, through tells you a lot.
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And all the while, neighbours Germany, 1978 aside, have won tournament after tournament, with Austria living in their shadow.
This is the context in which Austria — managed by pretty much the most popular German the country has known in Rangnick — will now look to go where no modern Austrian team has gone before: a quarter-final.
Dark horses, surely. How about outside favourites?
“The odds have their own language but we have made the first step out of a difficult group,” captain Marcel Sabitzer said.
“It’s a bit early to talk about a summer fairytale… but we have the quality to beat any opponent.”
He and they showed that quality in abundance against the Dutch. Sometimes when watching their fluid forward play, with Sabitzer and co interlinking with one-twos, flicks, intelligent movement and quick, precise passes, all you can do is smile. They’re fast, they’re fun and they’re so good to watch.
Twice the Dutch pegged them back, twice they overcame adversity to replenish and forage with that silky attacking play and thoroughly earn a pretty thrilling victory.
They did so despite missing key players — Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer were rested as they were on bookings, while defensive stalwart David Alaba and midfield lynchpin Xaver Schlager are absent with long-term injuries. Even some of the actual favourites for Euro 2024 would struggle without four of their spine.
Austria didn’t look weaker, which is the strongest possible testament to the Red Bull system Rangnick has so successfully implemented across his squad.
“Rangnick makes them better,” fan Dietmar, who has already brought up West Germany 1978 and all that to The Athletic, added.
“The team is good, we did OK in Euro 2020 just losing in extra time to Italy in the last 16, but Rangnick makes them better than they are.
“Being first in the group is pretty crazy, we’re just going to see how long we can win for. It’s a new feeling for sure.”
Not only have Das Team, as they are known, now earned a more favourable path in the draw, but they also don’t need to travel far. It’s the Group F runner-up next in Leipzig, Rangnick territory (and familiar to some current or former RB Leipzig players in the squad), an hour on the train from Berlin. If they win that, it’s back to Berlin for a quarter-final against either the winner of Belgium’s group or a third-placed side.
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Salivating food for thought. For now, the players can have their partners stay in their hotel on Tuesday night before a day off on Wednesday.
“The team were rewarded for this courageous and energetic performance,” Rangnick says.
“We were brutally good at the beginning. We continued going forward (after two Dutch equalisers) and we were rewarded for it.
“I don’t think it’s very probable to win the Euros, but if someone asked me to rule it out, I’d just say it’s not very likely. The lads want to go as far as possible.”
In mitigation, the Dutch were already through and rested a couple of players themselves, and did show up some Austrian defensive vulnerability.
But the momentum and feeling behind this Austrian team, the belief and excitement from the stands, players knowing their roles inside out while playing to a coherent tactical plan? These are facets that cannot be underestimated at an international tournament. Russia 2008… Wales 2016… Austria 2024? It feels plausible.
And having relegated France into second place in the group, the next job is to relegate 1978 in the minds of the Austrian public.
(Top photo: Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)