Euro 2008: Matchday Fourteen Round Up

Croatia vs. Turkey

Turkey, a side who have only led for two minutes in the whole tournament, and won two matches came into the match with great confidence and a sense of belief that they could reach a first semi-final, a target Croatia were also looking at. Bilic was confident enough to name his side, unchanged from the one that overcame Germany, to the media the day before the match. Turkey can only play at a high tempo, while Croatia’s team suits matches against the bigger sides, where more space is available to attack. It seemed to make for an intriguing contest.

Arda Turan, who has a wonderful balance and dribbling ability, beat a number of men, when given the ball in the opening seconds but his final cross into the box was behind the intended target, giving an indication of a end to end game as Sabri played a poor pass out from the back, which Modric intercepted. The Tottenham schemer drove forward and his shot was blocked by his own man when the pass to the left flank was available. At the other end, Altintop, a creative playmaker, was finally given a midfield berth as he was laid off by Nihat, but the Bayern man shot wide of the mark. Sabri gave the ball away once more after Rustu, the veteran hesitated once more, and a last ditch block denied Srna in the six yard box as the ball was played back in.

At the other end Nihat won a fortunate free-kick after Croatia Captain Niko Kovac won the ball. Altintop drove the ball but Kovac blocked bravely as he led by example. Croatia had two brilliant chances as Modric skipped down the right channel and crossed perfectly for Olic, who fired his shot against the woodwork with the goal gaping. The ball fell quickly to Kranjcar but the Portsmouth attacker couldn’t react swiftly enough and headed over. Soon after Pranjic, arguably the full-back of the tournament together with Van Bronckhorst and Zhirkov, worked space deep in the Turkish half as Fatih Terrim’s right flank was continually exposed but his cross was cleared.

Rakitic, the Schalke player continued to disturb the Turkish right flank as his cross was punched away by Rustu as Olic waited to pounce and atone for his earlier miss. At the other end, Turan’s backheel played in Tuncay who didn’t have the strength to brush off his marker. One would think he’d try twice as hard having been booked causing him to miss a prospective semi-final. Soon after, Altintop burst past Kovac and was looking to play Nihat in for a one versus one situation, but he mis-kicked the ball at the critical moment. Turkey came back into the game as Topal shot from long-range, in a strike which had Pletikosa scrambling across goal.

Turkey added comedy to the game with horrible defending as Olic broke after a poor headed clearance. Rustu met him but his punch was weak. The defender Asik came over to cover but misjudeged the bounce allowing Olic to head towards the goal from the end-line but Balta was back to clear to Tuncay who ran it away from danger. Modric was becoming increasingly influential, with a smart turn and pass playing in Kranjcar, who managed to squeeze away a shot despite being closed down swiftly by Sabri and Asik. The former Zagreb man, started a counter-attack and found himself in possession on the left flank, turning his marker several times, he crossed for the off-side Olic, who controlled and finished but couldn’t control his run at all.

Pranjic passed inside to Rakitic, who played a one-two with Olic, to find himself only against Rustu, with pressure from the Turkey defenders running back but he blazed his shot over as Croatia looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck, while Turkey looked content to hold on and look for the odd counter-attack. Terrim then took a risk by bringing on Semih Senturk, a striker, for midfield workhorse Topal to partner Nihat, who had little service throughout. Petric, brought on for Kranjcar in an earlier substitution, went past a number of men to win a free-kick on the edge of the area. Srna had a curling effort but Rustu saved it acrobatically, while Petric headed wide soon after. Turkey entered the final minutes with a sense of destiny as Altintop’s thread pass reached its target but the cross was immediately blocked. The game became stretched as Croatia attacked, with Modric played in down the right flank by a clever back-heeled pass and his cross reached Olic, who, squeezed in a shot, albeit straight at Rustu. The keeper was forced to make a save from a 40 yard free-kick from Srna, which almost squeezed under him.

Olic has hit by Robert Kovac’s shot but he was quick to react and fired a volley over in the final action of the 90 minutes. Extra time beckoned. Tuncay burst past a number of blue shirts and tried to angle in a cross from the by-line but rather than find a red shirt, the attempt troubled Pletikosa at the near post, who punched it away for a corner. Klasnic (yes, he of the double kidney transplant) was brought on for Olic, who was wasteful in front of goal despite his endless running and energetic display. Semih Senturk blazed over after being playing in by Arda Turan from the right flank. Turkey continued a good spell of possession, as Tuncay fired in a shot from the edge of the area and it flashed wide as only 15 minutes remained.

Asik joined Tuncay and Turan in the book as he would be the third Turk to be suspended from any semi-final involvement, as Fatih Terrim’s side further weakened themselves. The exhausted players were surely roused to that extra yard of running or inspiration by the great atmosphere created, which was even more prominent in the final stages, with no-one wanting penalties. Croatia were the fitter and better rested side, with their first-choice side having not played since the second matchday of Group B. Turkey caused some panic in the Croatian box as the ball fell to Turan wide on the right, but his cross was blocked. At the other end Modric battled for the ball but Rustu gathered. Sabri was fouled on the right flank of the Croatian area, allowing Nihat to take the free-kick. He injured himself in taking the dead ball as it went out for a throw in. The captain and explosive Villarreal striker went off injured four minutes before penalties. Was it worth keeping him on?

But Croatia attacked in the dying seconds and the first cross was blocked and Modric gathered as Rustu ran out pointlessly, and the schemer of slight build crossed with the veteran in no position to save as Klasnic headed in. Was it won? Not with Turkey in the game. A long ball up from Rustu bounced and the substitute Semih, who scored against Switzerland, smacked it in with aid of a slight deflection. Bilic went from ecstasy to shock, complaining about the time keeping and the refusal by the referee for him to bring on Jerko Leko. He had to gather himself to lift his players for a penalty shoot-out.

Modric took the first spot-kick and the delay of getting the ball may have affected him as he shot wide to the left of Rustu, having scored against Austria inside 3 minutes in their opening game he missed here (0-0). Turan, the confident youngster hit it low and opted for power and it crept under Pletikosa (0-1). Srna sent Rustu the wrong way and slotted home (1-1). Semih took a powerfully struck penalty into the left corner (1-2). Rakitic, the 20 year old Schalke player, wilted under pressure in the Turkey end (1-2). Hamit Altintop slotted home to Pletikosa’s left, beating the keeper with ease (1-3). Petric shot to the left but Rustu guessed correctly and beat it away to turn from villain to hero (1-3).

The Turks prevailed in one of the most stunning finales to a game as the huge psychological blow of Semih’s goal gave the Turks the advantage. Terrim’s side reach the semi-finals as Bilic tried to lift his shattered players, with images of the inconsolable Srna evoking sympathy from the stunned fans. 66-1 at the start of the tournament, Turkey may struggle to reach the final, with key players suspended against Germany. But if we’ve learnt anything from this brilliant tournament, one of the best ever, never ever rule Turkey out. Having been out of games for its majority, they showed it takes a second to succeed. The last gasp goals are becoming a trademark. As one forum member claimed: Alex Ferguson said in one of his more lucid moments: "Bloody Hell. Football, eh?!" That phrase is no more fitting in any situation than this one.

The stunning end to a tense, cagey encounter will predictably allow the BBC to roll out the pun ‘Turkish Delight’. They along with several tabloids surely won’t be able to resist, will they?

Croatia 1- 1 Turkey FT (a.e.t) (Turkey won 3-1 on penalties)