Euro 2024: Bullish Austria aims to beat Turkey to reach quarterfinals for first time

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Austria is bidding to go farther than it ever has at a European Championship when it takes on Turkey in the round of 16. The Austrians surprisingly topped a group ahead of France and the Netherlands and are bullish about progressing to the quarterfinals under German coach Ralf Rangnick. Turkey has shown signs of individual brilliance but is yet to click at Euro 2024 and will be without suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglu. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Tuesday. Here’s what to know about the match:

— Turkey reached the semifinals of Euro 2008 and is looking for another deep run in the tournament. But Italian coach Vincenzo Montella’s team struggled to beat 10-man Czech Republic in the last game and was beaten 3-0 by Portugal before that. Turkey qualified for the knockout stage as runner-up in Group F.

— Austria recovered from an opening 1-0 loss to France by beating Poland 3-1 and then the Netherlands 3-2 to top Group D.

— Calhanoglu and defender Samet Akaydin are suspended for Turkey because of an accumulation of yellow cards, while 10 of its players – including Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz – are in danger of missing the next match if booked.

— Austria will be without suspended defender Patrick Wimmer, while eight players including captain Marko Arnautovic are in danger of suspension.

— Austria and Turkey played a friendly in Vienna in March, when Austria won 6-1.

— Turkey defeated Austria 6-0 on aggregate in a playoff to reach the 2002 World Cup, where the team went on to finish third.

— Austria lost only one of its 10 qualifying games for Euro 2024 and lost only once last year. Rangnick’s team has won 14 of its last 19 matches, losing just two.

— Turkey came into Euro 2024 without a win in five matches.

— Austria has never been involved in a competitive penalty shootout, while Turkey defeated Croatia 4-2 in a shootout in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals.

— Both captains, Calhanoglu and Arnautovic, helped Inter Milan win Serie A last season.

— Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer and Turkey’s Salih Ozcan are Borussia Dortmund teammates, while Turkey defender Mert Muldur was born in Vienna. The Fenerbahce player was in the youth ranks of Rapid Vienna with Austria players Niklas Hedl and Leopold Querfeld.

— If Austria wins, it could mean a quick rematch in Berlin against the Dutch. The winner of this game will play the Netherlands or Romania in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

— Turkey had concerns about Real Madrid star Arda Guler during the group stage, but the 19-year-old attacking midfielder played from the start in the final group game and should be fit.

— Rangnick reported no late injury worries on Monday. Real Madrid defender David Alaba, who would have been captain, is missing the tournament as he recovers from a knee injury.

— Austria has a better record with nine wins to Turkey’s seven from their previous 17 meetings. There was one draw.

— Austria’s six goals at Euro 2024 have all come from different players.

— Austria is playing in the Euros for the fourth time and the third in succession. Its campaign was ended in the last 16 by eventual champion Italy in the last edition.

— Turkey is making its sixth tournament appearance, and third in succession.

— It will be Turkey’s first game in Leipzig.

“They are a very tough team who apply a lot of pressure. In the friendly there, we couldn’t respond to their pressure. I see this more as just another match rather than a chance for revenge. We want to win this match; even if it’s 1-0, it needs to be ours. We need to eliminate them and move forward.” — Turkey defender Zeki Celik.

“It doesn’t matter to us if our opponents are Austria or another country, to be honest. It wouldn’t be right to see this as an opportunity for revenge. Excessive ambition could backfire on us. We should keep both feet on the ground and do everything we can to win the game.” — Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok.

“The team knows full well that no matter who we play against, if we give our best performance, we can beat any opponent. But the players are still completely grounded and know exactly what’s important. The energy we bring to the field is what has made us a special team so far.” — Austria coach Ralf Rangnick.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Turkey's Kerem Akturkoglu, right, celebrates with his teammate Arda Guler after scoring his side's third goal during a Group F match between Turkey and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Turkey's Kerem Akturkoglu, bottom, celebrates with his teammate Arda Guler after scoring his side's third goal during a Group F match between Turkey and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Turkey's Arda Guler gestures during a Group F match between Czech Republic and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Turkey won 2-1. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer (9) scores a goal past Micky van de Ven of the Netherlands (15) during a Group D match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

SEATTLE (AP) — Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Seattle Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday.

Campbell has spent the past two seasons working as an assistant coach for Seattle’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley alongside head coach Dan Bylsma, who was hired in late May to take over the head job with the Kraken. There were immediate questions about whether Campbell would be making the move with Bylsma to Seattle.

She will, breaking through another barrier for women in hockey. Emily Engel-Natzke was hired by the Washington Capitals in 2022 as video coach, making her the first woman with a full-time assistant role in the league.

Now, there will be a woman on the bench.

“During our tenure in Coachella Valley, I saw firsthand Jessica’s commitment to player development,” Bylsma said. “Her ability to establish relationships with her players, specifically Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, was an important factor in this hire. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her at the NHL level.”

Campbell was a decorated player in the NCAA, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and Canada’s women’s national team, with whom she won silver at the 2015 world championship.

With the exception of a short stint with the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden in 2019-20, she hung up her skates in 2017 and had become highly regarded as a skating coach when she joined Coachella Valley in 2022. She had also worked as an assistant coach for Germany during the 2022 IIHF World Championships.

The 32-year-old native of Rocanville, Saskatchewan, was the first full-time female assistant coach in the AHL when she was hired by Coachella Valley before the start of its first season. She also had a one-game stint as an assistant on the Kraken bench for a preseason game against Calgary last September.

But having a woman on the bench as a coach has been an area where the NHL has lagged behind the NBA and NFL.

The NHL Coaches Association launched a Female Coaches Development Program in 2021 with the goal of growing the pool of available candidates.

Even before joining the league in 2021, the Kraken were at the forefront of giving women opportunities in hockey operations. Current assistant general manager Alexandra Mandrycky was one of the first front-office hires made by the franchise in 2018 as director of hockey administration and was part of the group that led the search for a general manager that ended with the hire of Ron Francis.

Namita Nandakumar was hired in 2020 and is a senior analyst in hockey operations.

Seattle also hired Hall of Famer Cammi Granato as a pro scout in 2019, a role she held before joining the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant GM in 2022.

Along with Campbell, the Kraken filled another spot on the coaching staff by hiring Bob Woods as one of Bylsma's assistants. Woods was an assistant with Minnesota since 2017, but was let go when Dean Evason was fired as head coach early last season.

Assistant coach Dave Lowry, goaltending coach Steve Briere, video coach Tim Ohashi and video assistant Brady Morgan complete the rest of the coaching staff.

AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Jessica Campbell, left, assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, works alongside Seattle Kraken coaches behind the bench during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Sept. 25, 2023, in Seattle. Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Seattle Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File)

FILE - Germany's assistant coach Jessica Campbell fist bumps with head coach Toni Soderholm after winning the group A Hockey World Championship match between Germany and Italy in Helsinki, Finland, Friday May 20 2022. Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Seattle Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday, July 3, 2024.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Germany's assistant coach Jessica Campbell stands behind players at the German bench during the group A Hockey World Championship match between France and Germany in Helsinki, Finland, Monday May 16, 2022. Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Seattle Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday, July 3, 2024.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)