The stage was set for a great game as the Czech Republic and Turkey with the two sides level on points and sharing defeats to Portugal and victories against co-hosts Switzerland, the match had to be won by one side or penalties after 90 minutes was a very real possibility. The main change was bringing in Koller for Baros, whose mobility and smart movement gave Bruckner’s side a strong focal point in comparison to the slow, static beanpole striker. But his stature was the main reason for his selection as he competed with Cetin physically.
Libor Sionko then returned the ball into the box from the right after great work down the left from the brilliant Marek Jankulovski and with Jan Koller set to pounce, Servet Cetin made a fine interception, showing he can match Koller on the ground, despite struggling aerially. Grygera then stormed down the right flank and crossed for Koller, who accepted the invitation to finish and guided the ball into the net off the underside of the bar via the hand of Volkan. Koller, who looked very unfit in the opening game, was totally dominant in this decider heading another ball over and volleying high and wide as the Czechs had the larger influence on the game.
Nihat tried an acrobatic scissor kick as the ball looped up into the air from a poor Jankulovski clearance but it was overhit. The Turks came back into the game as Tuncay Sanli headed goalwards but Cech was equal to it. Sabri, worked hard on the right flank and tricked his marker to allow him to advance to the box but his cut-back was blocked. Soon after the lively Libor Sionko swung in a deep cross from the right and Jaroslav Plasil met it at the far post to double the Czechs advantage, with the pace of the ball beating Volkan, who got a touch onto the ball in vain.
Jan Koller ran through, despite being marginally offside, only to shoot tamely wide from 10 yards, in an awkward fashion with mobility never being his strong point Fortunately for the Czechs, it wasn't too costly. Fatih Terrim was furious as Turkey were down to ten men, looking to bring a substitute on in the build up due to injury. Polak then hit the post after a fine cut-back and tried to head in the rebound with Emre Asik almost catching him fully on the head as they competed for the same ball. The Turkish defender then was booked for hauling down David Rozenhal, who was at the time strangely the furthest man up-field for the Czechs.
At the other end, a dangerous cut-back from Altintop, the right-back, normally an attacking midfielder for Bayern and it passed a crowd of players at the near post and ran to Arda Turan, who arrowed his shot in at the far post. Cech got a hand but it wasn’t enough. Kazim Kazim found himself in space but couldn’t control and eventually got into a tangle with his own team mate, resulting in the Czechs regaining the ball. Petr Cech continued a season of apparently uncharacteristic errors as he failed to catch a seemingly harmless cross and the untiring Nihat took advantage and tapped in to level the scores very late.
Nihat hit a wonderful curling shot in off the underside past Cech after being played in by a simple ball from Altintop through the Czech defence as the pint-sized Villarreal striker made it two in two minute to destroy Czech hopes and cement this night as one of the worst in Petr Cech’s career. There was still enough time for more controversy the Czechs almost equalized as Volkan shoved Jan Koller to the ground after the ball ran out for a goal kick, with referee Frojdfeldt not hesitating to send off the Turk, who should be the proud in the sense that he is capable of flooring the 6ft 7inch giant. But he will now miss the quarter final with Slaven Bilic’s Croatia. Tuncay went into goal for the remainder of injury time.
A most exhilarating denouement to this group stage match in this wonderful tournament showed the enigmatic nature of the Turks, who will make one half of an intriguing quarter final.
Turkey 3 – 2 Czech Republic FT
Portugal fielded essentially a reserve side as Fernando Meira, predominantly a centre-back for Stuttgart, came into midfield. The highly rated Miguel Veloso, a defensive midfielder started too in place of his Sporting Lisbon team-mate Joao Moutinho. To The Swiss had nothing to play for apart from pride and to give veteran coach Kobi Kuhn a fine send off as he went into retirement after their final group stage match.
The Portuguese started confidently, epitomised by an eye-catching cross from the exuberant Ricardo Quaresma, who executed a Rabona to float a fine cross that Helder Postiga, once of Tottenham headed over. Portugal's Nani fired in a low free-kick and Pepe deflects it on to the crossbar, via a brilliant reaction save from Pascal Zuberbuehler. The Manchester United youngster took on the role of his team-mate Ronaldo in influencing the proceedings from the wing. Yet as Portugal seemed to dominate possession, Inler reminded the audience of his ability with a long range shot that Ricardo had to tip over. Nani then broke into the area and passed sideways to Postiga, whose goal-bound shot was brilliantly blocked by Senderos.
Nani’s free kick was then punched away by Zuberbuehler as Portugal continued to search for the opener. Behrami of Lazio was caught by Paulo Ferreira, after the winger beat him for pace, and the Swiss man was caught on his ankle and was carried off by stretcher but fortunately came back on. Hakan Yakin then headed at goal from an Inler free-kick but was denied by Ricardo as the Swiss almost stole into the lead, after Scolari typically kept three men up-field for a chance to counter as set pieces continued to show themselves as a weakness in Portugal’s impressive arsenal of talents. Meira fed Postiga, with a slide-rule pass, and he slotted home but was incorrectly flagged offside (Lichtsteiner played him on) as Portugal continued to dominate.
Nani then hit the outside of the post having been found by a fine pass from Veloso. Ricardo Quaresma, who once more seemed to be playing second fiddle in this Portugual side, this time to Nani, drilled in a shot from 20 yards that Pascal Zuberbuehler punched the ball away, unable to gather. Gokhan Inler, who has attracted many suitors through his commanding displays in centre midfield, hit a sensational right-foot shot from 30 yards that clipped the outside of the post, as the Swiss began to take the game to Portugal. Their pressure was rewarded when Hakan Yakin latched onto a great clipped pass from Eren Derdiyok and kept his composure and smashed his shot between the legs of Ricardo. Hakan Yakin hammered a left-foot shot into the top corner from the penalty spot as Basel went mad as they went closer to what would be their first win at a European Championship finals as Tranquilo Barnetta was fouled through a challenge from Fernando Meira, who was already booked for dissent but escaped a second yellow.
The game ended, overshadowed by events in Geneva, but the scenes were as jubilant as those from the Turkish team and fans as the co-hosts bowed out with their pride in tact, and Kobi Kuhn could retire on a climax defeating one of the favourites, albeit a weakened Portugal side.
Switzerland 2 – 0 Portugal FT
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