Germany 3-2 Turkey

Philipp Lahm's last-minute winner sent Germany into the Euro 2008 final and sank a desperately unlucky Turkey.

Lahm stole in on Thomas Hitzlsperger's pass to beat Rustu Recber and give the Germans victory after a thriller in which Turkey were the better side.

Ugur Boral scrambled Turkey ahead after 22 minutes, but Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised quickly from close range.

Miroslav Klose headed Germany in front after 79 minutes, but Semih Senturk levelled before Lahm's late strike.

Germany barely deserved the victory, but once again they have reached a major final despite being unconvincing, where they will face either Russia or Spain in Vienna on Sunday.

Ravaged by injuries and suspension, Turkey defied all expectations to produce an outstanding performance full of grit, desire and no little quality and they should have been well in front by half-time.

Former Sheffield United forward Colin Kazim-Richards held his head in anguish in the 12th minute when he rattled the bar with a powerful shot that left German keeper Jens Lehmann well beaten.

He was denied by the woodwork again with a looping finish 10 minutes later - but this time Ugur was lurking to scramble in the rebound through the legs of the despairing Lehmann.

Stunned by the speed of Turkey's opening, Germany responded to equalise after 27 minutes.

Lukas Podolski was the creator with a run and cross from the left flank, but it needed a sweet finish with the outside of Schweinsteiger's right foot to beat Rustu.

Lehmann was having a nightmare and he had to scramble back hurriedly after misjudging Hamit Altintop's free-kick to turn the ball over the bar.

It was a superb spectacle, and Podolski escaped the attentions of the Turkish defence only to shoot over the top with Klose waiting unmarked in front of goal.

Lehmann was then forced to punch Ugur's powerful free-kick away after 39 minutes as Turkey continued to show the greater ambition.

Germany coach Joachim Low made a change at the interval, replacing Simon Rolfes, who had suffered a head wound in a clash with Ayhan Akman, with Torsten Frings.

The Germans were furious after 50 minutes when Lahm was clearly felled by Sabri Sarioglu, only to see Swiss referee Massimo Busacca ignore their appeals.

But Turkey, under the inspirational leadership of coach Fatih Terim, were continuing to set the pace and Ugur tested Lehmann once more with a shot at the end of a fine run.

Hitzlsperger showed the shooting power that marked his time at Aston Villa with 18 minutes left, shooting just wide from 30 yards with Rustu beaten.

But it was a calamitous error by the veteran Rustu that gifted Germany the lead with 11 minutes left, when he came for Lahm's cross but got nowhere near it, leaving Klose to head Germany in front.

If this tournament has told us one thing, it is that Turkey's refusal to accept defeat means they are at their most dangerous when behind and so it proved again as they drew level again with four minutes left.

Sabri rounded Lahm superbly on the flank, and the poacher Semih stole in to beat Lehmann at the near post.

Turkey looked to have taken the game into extra time, which was the very least they deserved, but their campaign ended in heartbreak in the closing moments.

Lahm raided forward and exchanged passes with Hitzlsperger before firing high past Rustu.

Germany celebrated the victory, but so much credit must go to Turkey for a magnificent effort that deserved so much more.


Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Hitzlsperger, Rolfes (Frings 46), Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski, Klose (Jansen 90).
Subs Not Used: Enke, Adler, Fritz, Westermann, Gomez, Neuville, Trochowski, Borowski, Odonkor, Kuranyi.

Goals: Schweinsteiger 27, Klose 79, Lahm 90.

Turkey: Rustu, Sarioglu, Topal, Zan, Balta, Aurelio, Kazim-Richards (Metin 90), Altintop, Akman (Erdinc 81), Boral (Karadeniz 84), Senturk.
Subs Not Used: Zengin, Cetin, Emre, Gungor, Nihat.

Booked: Senturk.

Goals: Boral 22, Senturk 86.

Att: 40,000

Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Croatia 1-1 Turkey (1-3 In penalties)

Turkey will meet Germany in the Euro 2008 semi-final after beating Croatia 3-1 on penalties after a dramatic extra-time finale in Vienna.

Ivan Klasnic headed Croatia in front with seconds left - only for Turkey's Semih Senturk to volley the equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Arda Turan, Semih and Hamit Altintop scored in the shoot-out for Turkey.

Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic missed for Croatia and Turkey keeper Rustu saved the deciding kick from Mladen Petric.

It was astonishing finish to a dreadful game, especially for Turkey keeper Rustu, who made an awful error that looked to have given Crotia victory before his free-kick set up Semih for the leveller as referee Roberto Rosetti prepared to blow the final whistle.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, who had celebrated what he thought was a famous victory with his players only seconds earlier, could not lift his deflated players and they looked a beaten side even before the penalty shoot-out.

Turkey, in contrast grasped the lifeline and Euro 2008's great survivors and late show specialists were through again, having led matches for only nine minutes in the entire tournament.

They face a huge task against Germany, however, after losing Arda, Tuncay Sanli and Emre Asik to suspensions after they were given yellow cards - and with keeper Volkan Demirel already out in similar circumstance.

But Fatih Terim's side must believe destiny is on their side after another remarkable escape act to follow their last-minute win against the Czech Republic that put them in the last eight.

Turkey recalled 35-year-old veteran Rustu in goal in place of the banned Volkan - and it was more a case of rusty in the first 45 minutes as he produced an uncertain display that spread uncertainty through his defence.

They had a remarkable escape in the 18th minute when Spurs' new midfield man Modric carved out a simple chance for Ivica Olic, only for the striker to somehow rattle the bar from six yards out.

Niko Kranjcar headed the rebound over the top with the entire Croatian bench, led by coach Bilic, already starting to celebrate.

Turkey, hit by injuries and suspension, were struggling to achieve any cohesion, but Mehmet Topal almost stunned Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa with a rising 35-yard shot that flew inches wide.

Olic was involved again as Croatia threatened to turn their superiority into a lead five minutes after the interval, when he headed the ball over the on-rushing Rustu - and was then presented with a second chance by Emre Asik but was able to find the target.

Turkey were providing stubborn resistance, but Croatia were also guilty of wasting chances when they presented themselves.

Olic turned creator to tee up Rakitic with 20 minutes left, but he rushed his finish and shot wildly over the top.

Rustu conjured up some of his old magic after 83 minutes as he dived high to his left to turn away a Darijo Srna free-kick that was destined for the top corner.

Modric was easily the game's most creative performer and with just a minute to go in normal time he set up Olic, but Rustu was perfectly placed to block.

Olic had endured a wayward night in front of goal, and he was off target again with the final kick before the game went into extra time.

Turkey actually looked the fresher side in the additional period and Semih flashed an angled shot just over with Pletikosa beaten.

Tuncay was even closer after 111 minutes with a 20-yard shot that was only inches away.

A terrible misjudgement by Rustu appeared to give Croatia victory in the dying seconds of extra time when he inexplicably raced out of his goal to try and tackle Modric - and he was stranded out of his goal as Klasnic headed in his cross.

Croatia's celebrations were wild, with coach Bilic heavily involved, and yet this tournament has told us never to write off Turkey.

And they equalised with literally the final kick of the game when Semih struck a superb finish as Croatia failed to clear a desperate punt into the area by Rustu.

Croatia looked devastated as the penalty shoot-out started, and they got off to the worst possible start when Modric placed his kick wide.

Arda, Semih and Hamit scored convincingly for Turket, but only Srna scored for Croatia with Rakitic missing and Rustu - the most relieved man in the stadium after his late mistake - saving from Petric.


Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, Robert Kovac, Simunic, Pranjic, Srna, Modric, Nico Kovac, Rakitic, Kranjcar (Petric 64), Olic (Klasnic 97).
Subs Not Used: Galinovic, Simic, Vejic, Vukojevic, Kalinic, Pokrivac, Knezevic, Leko, Runje.

Goals: Klasnic 119.

Turkey: Rustu, Altintop, Zan, Asik, Balta, Topal (Senturk 76), Sarioglu, Sanli, Turan, Kazim-Richards (Boral 61), Nihat (Karadeniz 117).
Subs Not Used: Zengin, Cetin, Emre, Metin, Gungor, Akman, Erdinc.

Booked: Sanli, Turan, Boral, Asik.

Goals: Senturk 120.

Turkey win 3-1 on penalties

Att: 50,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Switzerland 1-2 Turkey

Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland became the first team knocked out of the competition after they lost to Turkey.

The Swiss had taken the lead during a torrential downpour when a low cross slowed on the drenched pitch and allowed Hakan Yakin to tap in.

Yakin missed a glorious chance from the same spot and was punished later on when Semih Senturk headed Turkey level.

Arda Turan then broke Swiss hearts when he cut inside and scored with a shot in injury-time which took a deflection.

Portugal's win over the Czech Republic earlier on had added to the pressure on the home side as they knew a defeat would result in their elimination.

The situation meant the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel was a melting pot of nervous tension and passionate support from the Swiss contingent at the start.

There was also an extra element of needle around the game after the two teams were involved in a mass brawl at the final whistle of a World Cup 2006 play-off which the Swiss won on away goals.

Turkey's hunger for revenge saw them look the more assured in the early stages, while the prospect of elimination weighed heavily on a lacklustre Switzerland.

The pouring rain did not help the game and the home nation had to produce some last-ditch defending before giving their crowd reason to get excited.

Yakin's stinging shot was palmed away by Volkan Demirel before the Turkey keeper excellently touched a Tranquillo Barnetta free-kick round his post.

At the other end, Turkey hit the post when keeper Diego Benaglio pushed a free-kick inadvertently against Arda Turan and the ball richocheted back off the woodwork.

The downpour had meant that the ball regularly held up on the drenched pitch and, although the atrocious conditions made the game almost impossible, this worked to Switzerland's favour.

Philippe Senderos played a pass over the top of Turkey's defence to Derdiyok and he, with the help of the soaked ground, gave Yakin the simple task of tapping in.

Yakin had another glorious chance at the same spot minutes later when Valon Behrami crossed but the Swiss playmaker sidefooted the bouncing ball unbelievably wide from point-blank range.

Turkey came out with a renewed sense of purpose after the break as the rain ceased and they grabbed an equaliser when Semih Senturk nodded in Nihat's cross.

Swiss keeper Benaglio got two hands to the header but, instead of saving, could only divert the ball into his goal.

Nihat was inches away from a Tuncay Sanli cross as Turkey threatened a winner which finally came in dramatic fashion late on.

Turkey now face the Czech Republic with both sides on three points and in a straight shoot-out for a last eight slot, while Portugal have now qualified.


Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami, Inler, Gelson (Cabanas 76), Barnetta (Vonlanthen 66), Yakin (Gygax 85), Derdiyok.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Frei, Streller, Grichting, Spycher, Degen.

Booked: Derdiyok.

Goals: Yakin 32.

Turkey: Demirel, Altintop, Asik, Cetin, Balta, Karadeniz (Senturk 46), Aurelio, Metin (Topal 46), Turan, Nihat (Kazim-Richards 85), Sanli.
Subs Not Used: Rustu, Zengin, Zan, Emre, Gungor, Boral, Akman, Sarioglu, Erdinc.

Booked: Sanli, Aurelio, Balta.

Goals: Senturk 57, Turan 90