Austria ease past Poland 3-1 to renew knockout stage hopes

Austria secured a 3-1 victory over Poland in their Euro 2024 Group D match on Friday to renew hopes of a top-two finish and a spot in the knockout stage while leaving their opponents in last place with no points and only a slim chance of advancing.

In a furious start, the Austrians, now on three points from two matches – as many as France and Netherlands who meet later on Friday – applied early pressure and it paid off in the ninth minute with Gernot Trauner’s powerful header at the near post.

Poland, who have now lost both of their matches, levelled through Krzysztof Piatek’s his second attempt in the box after his first effort was blocked on the half-hour mark.

Fit-again Poland striker Robert Lewandowski came on in the 60th minute but it was Austria who scored twice more, first with a flowing move and Christoph Baumgartner finish just inside the box in the 66th and a Marco Arnautovic penalty 12 minutes later.