David Marshall's Euro Diary - Young Turks Saved by Mert (Patreon)

My deepest apologies for my absence yesterday, sometimes life gets in the way like Diogo Costa to any Slovenian. I’m moving my house currently, which is far and away the worst thing a person can do. If I die and go to hell, I will be made to move house every day for eternity. Thankfully, I had the time to watch the football today.

We started today with The Netherlands and Romania led by our own Iannis Hagi. The only representative left for Scottish football at this point in the tournament didn’t get off to the best of start and the spiffing headgear he ended up sporting didn’t help.

I’ve spoken with the overlord a few times about this over the tournament and we agree on this matter. Does anyone else feel that Hagi’s decline is directly related to him growing his hair out? Look at the smart handsome hairdo he had when he scored those goals against Braga! Look at him now, such a waste, such a disappointment.

Anyway, the Dutch would draw first blood first thanks to a fantastic strike by Cody Gpako who cut inside before lashing one into the bottom corner. It was a bit of a messy start for The Netherlands but the goal seemed to calm them down and they grew in strength from there.

To their credit, Romania tried to mount a fight back but two goals late in the game from Donyell Malen secured the Dutch a place in the quarter-finals. They are a funny old team The Netherlands, I wouldn’t say they’ve been “bad” at any point but nor have they been at full speed either. Not to the extent of say England or France but would I fancy them to beat either of those sides? I’m not sure. They are an intriguing side that might just pull something unexpected off.

The evening game was a cracker, a loud crowd and a backdrop of torrential rain made for enthralling viewing on the pitch. Austria were the clear favourites going into this one but they were given a shock within seconds.

A corner by Arda Güler bounced around the six-yard box, as the Austrians failed to clear it, Merih Demiral pounced and smashed the ball high into the net. Delirium and a wail of deafening noise from the Turkish fans behind the goals couldn’t help but spook the Austrians, this was not how this was supposed to go.

As could be expected, the Turks had to soak up a lot of pressure, as well as the rain and beer from the hundreds of cups that were thrown on the pitch tonight. A heart in mouth moment late in the half as the ball crept along the Turkish goalline from a corner before eventually being cleared.

Turkey made it to the break in front and on the hour mark doubled their lead. Another corner and once again it was Demiral who got to it to head home and once again cause the scenes and limbs™. From the reaction of the crowd, players and coaching staff it looked like Turkey had thought they had done enough, but it wasn’t over yet.

Austria got back into the game five minutes later and it was another corner, another goal. Michael Gregoritsch got on the end of Stefan Posch’s flick-on and controlled his shot at the back post to make it game on again.

The Austrians huffed and puffed but it looked like Turkey were going to survive but they had to endure one last gut-wrenching moment. With the game winding down, a looped ball into the box was headed towards the net by Christoph Baumgartner and it looked for all the world to be a goal. But somehow, Mert Gunok plucked the ball out of the air and turned it around the post.

A phenomenal save, a world-class save, a save that was fit to win a match and it did.

Turkey move on to the quarter-final whereas the much impressive and fancied Austria continue to wait for their first knockout win at a tournament since 1954.

And then, there were eight! Spain vs Germany, Portugal vs France, The Netherlands vs Turkey and England vs Switzerland. One of these teams will be crowned champions of Europe in just over a week and I’d say each one has every chance of doing it! As long as they are Spanish or German.