Real Madrid forward Arda Guler made history by matching the Euro records of Manchester United legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as Turkey defeated Austria in Leipzig. The match saw goals from Merih Demiral, with the quickest goal in the history of the European Championship knockout stages after just 57 seconds, putting Turkey in a strong position. However, Austria managed to pull one back through Michael Gregoritsch in the 66th minute, making for a tense end to the game.
Despite the pressure, a crucial save from Mert Gunok in stoppage time secured Turkey’s spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Guler played a key role in the victory, delivering two perfectly placed corners that led to his team’s goals. By assisting Demiral’s goal, Guler became only the third teenager to both score and assist in the same Euro, joining the ranks of Rooney and Ronaldo.
Guler had previously found the back of the net in Turkey’s 3-1 win over Georgia, echoing the feats of Rooney and Ronaldo from Euro 2004. Turkey is now set to face the Netherlands in Berlin, with the winner progressing to play either England or Switzerland in the semi-finals. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of Turkey’s journey in