Austria did not really get much of a chance on its way into Euro 2020.
I mean, David Alaba plays for them. But what else do they have? Will a team that still plays Marko Arnautovic in 2021 really do any serious damage in a big tournament?
Abolishing them was an easy trap to fall into, especially when some quick research revealed that they had only ever qualified for the European Championships twice and had not won a game on any of them.
But what is the euro for if we do not expose that kind of ignorance and let us all feel a little silly?
Austria did not exactly light up the continent, but they took a firm step forward in their comrades and politely warned us that we will see many more of them on this stage in the coming years.
They came through a tough group as runners up to the Netherlands, fired an incredible Ukrainian side without too much trouble and then went out with a bang against one of the favorites for the tournament and took Italy to extra time and almost beyond.
But it was not just their strong, stable performances that gave them hope for the future. 21-year-old Christoph Baumgartner caught the eye and proved that Austrian football is in good hands on the distant horizon beyond Alaba and Arnautovic.
The first goal from one of ??? 21 ‘at # EURO2020
Baumgartner you beauty! ? pic.twitter.com/yb8jdpvgx3
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 21 June 2021
He was not at his electric best against the Italians. If he had been, Austria would probably be looking forward to a quarter-final, such was the knife-edge in their 16-year-old at Wembley. But in front of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, he did enough to catch the eye and show exactly what all the fuss is about.
The child has a thriving relationship with Alaba, which may be why Franco Foda was constantly playing him from the left flank. It created a left-wing side that could withstand everything that Euro 2020 threw at them, while the creativity that flowed from the duo meant that they could harm someone – even the seemingly infallible Italians.
Baumgartner became the first of the 90-minute Our 21 to score in the tournament when his crashing header gave them a victory against Ukraine and how he goes will certainly not be his last.
21 – Age 21 years and 324 days Christoph #Baumgartner has become the youngest goal scorer in # EURO2020 and also the youngest Austrian goal scorer in the European Championships. #AUT #UKRAUT pic.twitter.com/nhSmX8FANT
– OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 21, 2021
The Hoffenheim kid is on his way to the top and while his tournament is now over, it will probably not be long before we see him back at a major championship.
Qatar 2022, anyone?
