Marcel Sabitzer sank the Netherlands with his 3–2 goal and Austria surprisingly won group D in the European Championship.
France became group runners-up after 1–1 against Poland, as Kylian Mbappé scored a goal in his comeback after his nose fracture in the European Championship opener.
Most of the talk was about France and the Netherlands ahead of the decisive match in group D of the European Championship in Germany. But it was Austria that won the group after a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands in Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer became the big match hero at the Olympiastadion with the decisive goal in the 80th minute.
It doesn't get any better than this when you win in this way, win the group and score the decisive goal, says Sabitzer according to news agency AFP.
With the win, Austria passed France and the Netherlands in the group. The French finished second after 1–1 against Poland in Dortmund. The Netherlands are also through to the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Mbappé's first European Championship goal
Last Monday, Kylian Mbappé nodded into Austrian Kevin Danso's shoulder in the European Championship opener in Düsseldorf. The 25-year-old had to leave the match with a heavily bleeding nose and a fracture was confirmed. After missing the meeting with the Netherlands (0–0) in Leipzig on Midsummer Eve, Mbappé was back in the French team in the group finale against Poland.
The star striker, wearing a protective mask, then scored his first goal in the European Championship when he safely placed a penalty in the 56th minute and gave France a 1–0 lead. He celebrated by removing the much-talked-about mask he had been training with in recent days.
Poland goes home
The goal was not only the future Real Madrid player's first in this year's European Championship finals. It was also his first in European Championship history since he remained goalless in the European Championship three years ago.
About 20 minutes after Mbappé's leading goal, Poland were awarded a penalty after a video review, as Karol Swiderski was fouled by Dayot Upamecano. France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved the first penalty from Poland's star Robert Lewandowski. But the striker got to retake it, as Maignan was deemed to have moved too early. Lewandowski kicked the ball into the same corner, Maignan's right, and the ball went into the net, and the match ended in a draw.
Poland were already eliminated before the group finale and leave the European Championship with one point.
Austria, France, and the Netherlands join Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy in the round of 16.
