LONDON -- For those who had followed Austria and Germany through the group stage at Euro 2022, there was, on paper, only one way for this quarterfinal to go. Ahead of the game at Brentford Community Stadium, analysts agreed about how the two teams would line up and how Germany would dominate the ball, leaving Austria to hold a firm defensive shape and try and hit on the break.
That was what was supposed to happen at least. Yet when the match settled into a first half rhythm, it was Austria who were the team on top, it was Austria who were seeing the better chances and it was Austria who were causing their opposition to panic in defence.