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July 3 – It was one of those defining moments that will go down in the annals of European football.
When Turkish keeper Mert Gunok flung himself across goal to prevent Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner taking their pulsating last-16 tie at Euro 2024 into extra time by miraculously keeping out his downward header, those of a certain age immediately recalled something similarly spectacular over half a century ago.
Ever since England’s Gordon Banks defied Pele in the 1970 World Cup, his stunning save against Brazil has been watched and watched a zillion times across the globe.
The collective view among pundits and punters alike has long been that it would never be equalled in a major competition. Now it arguably has – by Gunok’s gravity-defying stop. It’s at least certainly up for debate.
“It’s difficult if you have Gordon Banks in goal,” said Austria’s shell-shocked coach Ralf Rangnick as the country’s 2-1 defeat extended their failure to win a knockout match of a major tournament to seven decades.
Some might even suggest Gunok’s heroic save, in the 95th minute, was even better than that of Banks since it was in a winning cause.
“If you’re behind by two goals, then things aren’t any easier. The team tried everything,” said Rangnick. “We then scored one goal and we had enough time to achieve a draw.”
Which, on the balance of play and chances, the Austrians probably deserved. They have been one of shining lights of Euro 2024 compared with some of the turgid displays from the likes of France and England.
“I saw some games that were difficult to stay awake for, but that was not the case with us,” said Rangnick pointedly.
In a way you had to feel for them given how entertaining and enterprising they have been. In that sense they were worthy of a quarter-final berth but football doesn’t work like that and now they find themselves outside looking in.
“You need a bit of luck,” Rangnick added. “If Baumgartner’s…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/03/mert-gunoks-wonder-save-keeps-turkish-hearts-pounding-last-8/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-03 05:24:21
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