Austria coach Ralf Rangnick scoffed at suggestions his side had played for a mutually beneficial draw against Algeria after Saturday’s chaotic 3-3 World Cup thriller.

The dramatic finale that sent both teams through to the knockout stage, he ​said, was proof ‌there had been no collusion.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Algeria and Austria advance after dramatic draw, knock Iran out of group stage

With a draw enough to send Austria through as Group J ⁠runners-up and Algeria into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed sides, the prospect of a convenient result had dominated conversation in the build-up.

But Rangnick said the ‌game’s extraordinary finale should silence any conspiracy theories.

“In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can ⁠assume that it was an agreement, and especially what we saw during the last 90 seconds,” the 67-year-old said.

The match exploded into life deep into added time.

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez put his side 3-2 ahead ​in the 93rd minute, only for substitute Sasa Kalajdzic to equalise with virtually the last touch ‌of the game.

“Three minutes to play, if somebody had said this would happen, you would have told them they were mad,” Rangnick said.

“I’ve been a coach for about 40 years and I don’t even remember a match that had such a dramatic course and such ‌an unexpected trajectory.

“Most anticipated 0-0 or 1-1, and now it’s 3-3. It’s incredible. The locker room is madness. If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a drama, I probably would have ​said he was completely mad.”

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The German rejected suggestions that either side had been content to settle for a draw late in the game, noting that players continued to push for a winner before Mahrez’s strike.

“All who watched the game during ​the last 15 minutes must know there is no hint that the players absolutely wanted to have a draw,” he ​said. “I think they wanted to win.

“Nobody can tell me that suddenly in minute 93 ​somebody would plan: ‘oh yes, let’s score another goal.’ I think maybe it was the thought of one or two players in Algeria, but I think in the rest of ​the squad I don’t think it was the case, and not for me.”

Austria now face European champions Spain in the round of 32 on July 2 in California.

Rangnick said he believes anything is possible.

“You saw that during the last couple of seconds (on Saturday). And who would have thought that Turkey would be eliminated after only two matches?

“So we’re very happy that we are in the ⁠most difficult of all groups, and we advance in second in this group, and that was definitely not easy.”

Rangnick said he was still struggling to ⁠process a result that ​booked his team’s first World Cup knockout appearance in 44 years.

“I am relieved and incredulous and happy,” he said. “I still can’t believe it. I need to be pinched to wake up from a dream.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters) 

In Sand Raiders of Sophie, the Tech Tree Nodes serve as the primary means to customize your walker. However, as is the nature of games with giant skill trees, picking the right Tech Tree Node and skills for your walker can be a daunting process, especially for new players. It’s very important to choose the right Nodes before you invest your hard-earned resources in Sand Raiders of Sophie.

In Sand Raiders of Sophie, there are a total of 11 Tech Tree Nodes. However, as you progress through the game, you will slowly unlock perks from all these Nodes without having to focus on a single Tech Tree.

That said, in the early game, you do need to be mindful of which Nodes you invest your resoruces into in the early game. To help with that, here’s a comprehensive guide on the 7 best early game Tech Tree Nodes in Sand Raiders of Sophie.

Also Read: Best survival tips for Sand Raiders of Sophie

Sand Raiders of Sophie: Best early game Tech Tree Nodes

As you progress through Raiders of Sophie, you will unlock all 11 Tech Trees. Furthermore, you can also choose to invest resources into multiple Tech Trees at once without any penalty. However, we do recommend making smart choices when it comes to investing resources.

In the opening few hours, you will find Tech Trees like Captain’s Cabin, Cargo Hold, and Cargo Bay to be a far better option than others.

Furthermore, some of the Tech Tree Nodes don’t even have any gameplay-related perks to them. Instead, they offer more customization options for your walker and make moving around the ship a bit easier.

With that said, here are the 7 best early game Tech Tree Nodes in Raiders of Sophie that you should not miss out on:

• Motor Reactor / Engine Upgrades: The Reactor is essentially the beating heart of your walker. As such, upgrading it at the earliest should be the priority. It increases your walker’s base HP.
• Crew Room: This upgrade is mandatory to unlock the Captain’s Cabin, which bolsters your walker’s defense.
• Captain’s Cabin: This upgrade adds an extra layer of defense on your walker, making it more resistant to damage.
• Cargo Holds and Cargo Bays: These upgrades increase the base HP of your walker and also add armor to the reactor.
• Chassis Upgrades: The Chasis upgrades essentially increase the weight capacity of your walker. As such, you get to carry more artillery and compartments for increased protection and firepower.
• Framed Artillery Deck: These upgrades increase the health of your walker’s weapons.
• Improved Reactor: This is a mid-game upgrade that further increases the HP of your walker’s reactor.

Do note that these Tech Tree upgrades are recommended for early game sections in Raiders of Sophie. However, as you progress through the game, we recommend working your way through every Tech Tree, as some of the late-game Nodes can offer substantial upgrades to your walkers.