FORMER Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick appeared to take a dig at England and other top nations after revealing he’s found it “difficult to stay awake” during some Euros matches.
The Austria gaffer saw his side dumped out of the tournament in yesterday’s last-16 defeat to Turkey.
Rangnick’s men had impressed throughout the group stage, finishing top of a group containing France and Holland while scoring six goals in the process.
But Austria appeared slightly sluggish in the final third on Tuesday as they lost 2-1 to Turkey.
Rangnick’s side conceded with less than a minute on the clock and also saw a last-gasp header, which looked destined to seal an equaliser, palmed away by Turkey’s keeper.
It was arguably the most thrilling match of the last 16.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
And Rangnick, who managed United between December 2021 and May 2022, pointed out that Austria had consistently entertained throughout the tournament as others struggled to impress.
The likes of England and France have both found goals hard to come by, despite being the two favourites for the tournament.
While other nations like Portugal have also relied on a patient possession game, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side needing a penalty shootout to get past Slovenia on Monday.
Rangnick did not target any specific nations as he played up Austria’s attacking intent while lamenting their late saved header.
Most read in Football
EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS
But he did let slip that he had dozed off on more than one occasion while watching certain sides in action.
Rangnick, who won 11 of his 29 United games, said: “I can’t believe we’re going home. We thought we would be getting ready for the next game.
“If the Baumgartner header had gone in we would have won this game.
“We didn’t have the luck we needed. I believe if the game had gone into extra time we would have won because they were exhausted and we had a physical advantage.
“But we should be proud. All our games were super intense because of the way we played.
“I’ve seen other games where it was difficult to stay awake and that was not the case with our matches.”
England’s penalty shootout record
THE dreaded penalty shootout.
England’s nemesis at no fewer than SEVEN major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.
But two shootout victories before the Italy defeat give some reason for optimism…
- 1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2
- Euro 1996 semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5
- Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-3
- 1998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-5
- 2006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1
- Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-2
- 2018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3
- vs SWITZERLAND – Nations League third-place play-off, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5
- Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2
- OVERALL: Played 11, Won 3, Lost 8
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
