Ralf Rangnick expressed frustration at aspects of Austria's defensive showing but lauded their entertainment factor after the exit at Euro 2024, where other games have been "difficult to stay awake for".
Austria topped Group D ahead of France and the Netherlands but were exposed from two corners in their last-16 defeat against Turkiye, who triumphed 2-1 in Leipzig on Tuesday.
Merih Demiral capitalised just 57 seconds into the encounter after Arda Guler's set-piece caused carnage, before the same combination provided another telling blow in the second half.
Austria have now fallen at the first knockout stage in back-to-back editions of the Euros, though Rangnick was far from displeased with his battling side.
"We didn't have the necessary luck," the Austria manager told reporters. "I believe if the game had gone to extra time we would have had a chance to win, the Turks were fairly exhausted towards the end, but we had a physical advantage."
"We didn't score enough goals, not enough chances and the set pieces, we didn't defend well. For the second goal, we had three players very good at headers, but Demiral still scored, and if you're two goals behind, it's not easy.
"The four games we played were very entertaining, including today's game. Not everything was accurate, we could have played a few passes better.
"Four entertaining games, super intense – I saw games that were difficult to stay awake for, but that is not the case with us."
Austria recorded an expected goals figure of 2.7 against Turkiye, the most by a team that failed to progress from the Euros knockouts since France against Switzerland in the 2020 round of 16 (3.1).
That entertainment cited by Rangnick was clear to see as Austria were thwarted by Mert Gunok's eye-catching stop in the last minute from Christoph Baumgartner's downward header.
"We are very happy, it is difficult to find words right now," Turkiye's goalkeeping hero Gunok said after his country progressed to the last eight of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years.
"It was a great win, I thank everyone who supported us, I thank our supporters, people and citizens who continued to support us and prayed for us.
"We still have a long way to go, if it's God's will we will go to the very end. We believe this. This win took us to the next level in terms of morale and confidence."
Demiral was the hero at the other end, becoming the first defender to score twice in a game at a major tournament (World Cup/Euros) since John Stones for England versus Panama at the 2018 World Cup.
"I would like to first say this – how happy is the one who says I am a Turk? We experienced incredible moments thanks to our supporters," centre-back Demiral added.
Vincenzo Montella will hope that the Turkish pair can deliver once more when they meet the Netherlands, who overcame Romania 3-0 on Tuesday, in the last eight in Berlin on Saturday.
Blind embracing 'different' Euro 2024 role despite reduced playing time
Daley Blind is embracing playing a more supportive role for the Netherlands, despite his lack of playing time at Euro 2024.
The 34-year-old is appearing at his fourth major tournament with the Oranje, who he represented at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups, as well as Euro 2020.
However, his playing involvement has been far more limited this time around, with the defender only appearing for the final minute of the 3-0 victory over Romania in the round of 16.
Blind was made aware this would be the case ahead of the tournament following a discussion with head coach Ronald Koeman, who encouraged him to use his vast experience to benefit the younger players in the squad.
"It's different, and it takes some getting used to," the Girona defender told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "In this role, you try to help your team-mates, keeping them sharp and motivated. Some have it hard at times.
"You want to play yourself, of course, but it is a choice the coach has made, and I try to be a helping hand where necessary. I knew what my role would be after speaking to the coach before the tournament started.
"But the fact that this was going to be my role never meant for a moment that I didn't want to come to the tournament. It's a great honour to play for the Dutch team, and certainly at a final tournament."
The Netherlands are gearing up for a quarter-final showdown with Turkiye in Berlin on Saturday.
England or Switzerland will await the winners in the last four, where the Oranje are aiming to advance for the first time in this competition since 2004.
"Hopefully, it will be a great match," Blind added. "Turkiye bring a lot of emotion and passion, so we'll have to be wary of that. It is a quarter-final at a major tournament, and that is always a tough event."
'It could have been the final', De la Fuente acknowledges as 'giant powers' Spain and Germany collide
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes his side's blockbuster last-eight clash with Germany would be a worthy final at Euro 2024.
The two sides - described as "giant powers of European football" by La Roja's boss - go head to head in an eagerly anticipated encounter at Stuttgart Arena on Friday.
Spain, who topped Group B with maximum points, are the only nation at the tournament to have won all four matches thus far, while Germany collected seven points in Group A before overcoming Denmark 2-0 in the last 16.
Both teams are seeking a record-breaking fourth European Championship triumph, and whoever prevails here will be widely expected to go on and lift the Henri Delaunay cup on July 14.
And De la Fuente is relishing what will be a repeat of the 2008 final, which La Roja won 1-0 thanks to Fernando Torres' sole strike.
"It could have been the final of the European Championship, and it'll be an even game on a footballing level," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
"Germany always start games in a really powerful way, so obviously we'll try to counteract that. We'll try to take the initiative and go all-out from the first minute.
"These are two giant powers of European football and the first thing I'd say about my team is that one of our great strengths is that we always perform as one unified block. In that respect, us and Germany are in fact quite similar.
"I wouldn't change my players for anyone in the world. For me, my players are the best in the world. We're fully prepared to go out there and try to win. We feel lots of responsibility, and we're extremely focused."
Asked if he thought the winners of this game will go on to lift the trophy, the coach added: "There are other powerful teams in other ties. The closer you get to the final, only the best remain.
"Nothing is free here. Whoever goes through will go through because they're a great team. In football, the best team doesn't always go through.
"I don’t know if [the winners] will be one of the favourites to win the title, but we see ourselves as a very strong team with the potential to fight for it."
Dani Carvajal concurred with De la Fuente, and the Real Madrid defender believes the contest will be determined by the finest of margins.
"I have a great feeling [about the game]," he said. "I can see from my team-mates that everyone is relaxed.
"We know we have to play a great game to beat them, but I can see a confident and energetic team. It's a 50-50 game in which details will make all the difference.
"Man for man, they have world-class players. They have fast wingers, tough centre-backs and people who like to have the ball at their feet. We have similar qualities to them.
"It depends on if they will sit back or press high. That's going to define how close we get to their goal, and maybe the pace of the game."
Martinez: Euro 2024 quarter-final not just Ronaldo versus Mbappe
Roberto Martinez insists Portugal's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with France will not merely come down to Cristiano Ronaldo's duel with Kylian Mbappe.
Portugal and France face off in Hamburg on Friday, with a last-four meeting with either Germany or Spain the prize for the victor.
Many have billed the match as a head-to-head battle between Mbappe and his idol Ronaldo, with both superstars desperate to hit top form after underwhelming starts to the tournament.
Ronaldo is yet to score from 20 shots worth 2.75 expected goals (xG), the former being a tournament-high tally, and he was in tears at half-time in extra time after seeing a penalty saved in Portugal's last-16 tie versus Slovenia.
Mbappe, meanwhile, suffered a broken nose in France's Group D opener against Austria, returning to score from the penalty spot in their matchday-three victory over Poland but failing to prevent them from finishing as runners-up.
France are yet to score a goal from open play at this tournament, with two own goals coming alongside Mbappe's spot-kick.
Martinez has played down suggestions Friday's match will be all about stopping Mbappe, saying: "Suffering is part of life, it's part of football, part of everything.
"We can promise that we will give everything, the players are focused on playing, and football is a team sport. Tomorrow is not a two-player game.
"They have incredible influence, Cristiano had an influence on Mbappe and Mbappe on others, but tomorrow is a game where the team needs to perform great."
Ronaldo was criticised by many for attempting four shots from direct free-kicks without success against Slovenia.
He has now attempted 60 direct free-kicks in European Championship or World Cup matches, only scoring with one of them, versus Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
Asked whether Ronaldo could be stripped of set-piece duties, Martinez said: "That passes me by.
"The players practice in training and Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have that responsibility. We are fortunate to have two players with a very good profile to do it."
Portugal will hope to draw on the memories of their Euro 2016 final victory over Les Bleus, when Eder scored an extra-time winner after Ronaldo was taken off injured.
Asked how Portugal's class of 2024 matches up to the 2016 champions, Martinez said: "I don't like to compare generations.
"This generation has a different path. We are a better generation, but in 2016 we had a victory in the final."
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