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/

Jerman Waspada, Turki Percaya Diri

Jerman dan Turki memiliki hubungan baik. Sekitar 2,2 juta warga keturunan Turki bermukim di Jerman dan hidup berdampingan dengan damai. Sekarang kedua Negara harus bermusuhan pada semifinal Piala eropa 2008 di Stadion St Jakob park, Swiss, Kamis dinihari, untuk memperebutkan satu tempat di final.

Sejak 1951, kedua tim telah 17 kali bertemu, 11 di antaranya dimenangkan Jerman. Turki hanya mampu meraih tiga kemenangan dan tiga kali imbang. Laga semifinal ini akan menjadi pertemuan kedua bagi Jerman dan Turki di sebuah turnamen besar.

Kedua tim bertemu pada Piala Dunia 1954. Saat itu Jerman, yang mengusung bendera Jerman Barat, menghabisi Turki dalam dua kali pertemuan dengan skor total 11-3(4-1 dan 7-2). Jerman pun terus melangkah ke final hingga menjadi juara. Uniknya, kedua pertemuan itu terjadi di Swiss.

Kemengan di Piala Dunia 1954 adalah kemenangan terbesar Jerman atas Turki. Seiring perjalanan waktu dan perkembangan sepakbola, Turki mulai bisa menyaingi Jerman. Buktinya, Turki dua kali menang dan bermain imbang melawan Jerman dalam tiga pertemuan terakhir.

Pada Oktober 2005 di Istambul, Turki mengalahkan Jerman, yang saat itu ditangani Jurgen Klinsmann dan Joachim Loew, dengan kemengan 2-1 lewat gol hamit Altintop dan Nurin Sahin. Kekalahan itu dianggap wajar karena Jerman hanya menurunkan tim cadangan. Sekarang, Jerman akan tampil dengan kekuatan penuh termasuk gelandang Torsten Frings. Motivasi jerman juga sangat tinggi setelah menyingkirkan tim tangguh Portugal 3-2 di perempat final.

Sebaliknya, Turki kehilangan banyak pemain kunci akibat cedera dan akumulasi kartu. Semangat juang tinggi dan kekompakan yang dirajut hamit dkk bisa menghancurkan jerman. Itulah yang dikhawatirkan Loew. Apalagi dia sedikit mengenal karakter pemain Turki yang pantang menyerah selama menangani Fenerbahce.

“Setelah menagn dua atau tiga pertandingan, euphoria begitu tinggi dan Turki begitu percaya diri. Mereka menjadi lawan yang sulit sepanjang turnamen ini. Turki juga diperkuat beberapa pemain yang tangguh secara teknik. Turki punya mental luar biasa, percaya diri tinggi, dan selalu bisa membalikkan keadaan,” ujar Loew.

Sejumlah pemain kunci Turki terkena skorsing, yaitu kipper Volkan Demirel, Emre Asik, Tuncay Sanli, dan Arda Turan. Nihat Kahveci, emre Gungor, Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin, dan Emre Belozoglu terkena cedera. Praktis saat ini pelatih faith Terim hanya memiliki 13 pemain yang siap bermain.

Akibat krisis pemain, Terim bahkan berencana memainkan kipper ketiga Tolda Zengin sebagai bek atau penyerang tengah. “dia bisa berguna sebgai pemain pengganti terakhir untuk menempati posisi di lini pertahanan atau sebagai penyerang tengah.” kata Terim.

Meski sedang dirundung masalah, optimisme Turki tidak menurun. Mereka tetap yakin bisa mengalahkan Jerman dan melangkah ke Final. “Saya selalu ingin anak-anak mengikuti filosofi saya. Saya katakana kepada mereka, jangam takut kalh meskipun sudah tertinggal, dan jangan pernah menyerah. Kami seperti bangkit dari kubur,” ujar Terim.

Turki masih memiliki hamit altintop, pemain bayern Munich. Altintop berguna untuk membeberkan gaya permainan lima pemain inti Jerman yang menjadi rekan setimnya di Bayern. Turki juga berharap keajaiban di tiga laga terakhir kembali terulang sekaligus memenuhi ambisi mencatat sejarah ke partai final turnamen bergengsi untuk pertama kali.

Prakiraan Pemain

Jerman (4-5-1): Jens Lehmann (g); Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm , Arne Friedrich; Thomas Hitzlsperger, Simon Rolfes , Torsten Frings , Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski; Miroslav Klose. Pelatih: Joachim Loew

Turki(4-4-2): Rustu Recber(g); Hamit Altintop, Ugur Boral, Gokhan Zan , Hakan Kadir Balta; Sabri Sarioglu, Gokdeniz Karadeniz, Mehmet Aurelio , Mehmet Topal; Kazim Kazim, Semih Senturk. Pelatih: Fatih Terim

Germany vs Turkey Prediction

It’s down to the final four teams in the EURO 2008 Semi-finals. First off, on Wednesday June 25, is Turkey vs Germany then, on Thursday June 26, is Spain vs Russia. Germany and Spain are no surprise to be where they are, but Turkey and Russia have shocked the world! The Turkey vs Germany game takes place at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have Germany as -300 moneyline favs over Turkey who are listed as +725 underdogs. Get your Germany vs Turkey: EURO 2008 Semi Final Betting Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com

Turkey shocked the Croatians with a 2-1 win (penalty shots) after they got a last second goal to take the match into penalty shots. Goalie Rüştü Reçber was great for his nation, he was replacing goalie Volkan Demirel after he was suspended for two games. He appealed the ban but UEFA’s governing bodies rejected the appeal. Rüştü Reçber is a Turkish football icon and is his country's record cap-holder who got Turkey to finish third at the 2002 World Cup. Their goalie situation is fine, now they need to deal with their roster as more than half their team is out with injuries or yellow cards. Attacking midfielders Arda Turan, Tuncay Sanli and centre-back Emre Asik will watch from the stands due to yellow cards. Defenders Servet Cetin, Emre Gungor, midfield men Emre Belozoglu, Ayhan Akman and Tumer Metin have injuries, but with three day’s rest before Wednesdays match they might be able to play. Definitely out of the running to feature in the semi is skipper and main striker and groin injury victim Nihat Kahveci, who scored a goal in the come from behind win over the Czechs. They Turks know they are underdogs against the big bad Germans, but they still believe. “One thing you can be sure of is that our team will not be in awe by a semi-final with Germany. We will not be scared by Ballack, Podolski or Schweinsteiger. We have a more than reasonable chance of reaching the first final of our history. As you saw in the Croatia game we are well organized at the back. The Croats have a lot of attacking talent but they didn't get the better of us very often. We're good counter-attackers and I'd go as far to say we are a better technical team than Germany.” says Fatih Terim.

Germany beat Portugal, rather easily, 3-2 to reach the Semi-finals. Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger scored one and set up two more for Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack. Germany started out their Group stages rather slowly, but their last two games have looked like the favorites their expected to be. “We are a German team and a tournament team,” striker Miroslav Klose explained. “We did not show what we were capable of in the group but I am happy that we could finally play decent football against Portugal.” They cannot let the fact that Turkey hasn’t played on the big stage in a while and that they have a shortened lineup. "Anyone who thinks the game against Turkey will be easier because of thier shortened roster hasn't been paying much attention to this tournament," team manager Oliver Bierhoff said. "The quality is so high that even the players who come in from the fringes are capable of winning games.” Even if Germany go ahead a goal or two they can’t sit back as the Turkish side has come from behind in three games. Keep applying pressure.

Head to Head: 17 matches played
Germany leads 11-3
3 matches ended in a draw
Germany scored 40 goals
Turkey scored 10 goals

from: http://www.point-spreads.com/

Sekilas Euro 2008

Siapakah kandidat Juara Euro 2008?

Dalam Euro 2008 kali in banyak terjadi kejutan-kejutan yang sulit dipercaya pengamat sepakbola di seluruh dunia.

Kejutan pertama datang dari tersingkirnya inggris di babak kulaifikasi. Tim sekuat inggris bisa tidak lolos babak kulaifikasi, hal itu tentunya sangat mengejutkan seluruh pecinta sepakbola.

Materi pemain bagus dan dukungan penuh suporter tidak sanggup membuat inggris lolos. Mereka kalah dari Kroasia, tim yang tidak diperhitungkan sebelumnya dapat berbuat banyak apalagi dapat mengalahkan tim sebesar inggris.

Kejutan tidak sampai di sana saja, pada kompetisi sesungguhnya di babak group. Dua tim unggulan Republik Ceko dan Prancis tersingkir secara mengejutkan. Terutama Republik Ceko, pada pertandingan “hidup mati”, mereka sempat unggul 2-0 atas tim “underdog” Turki. Tapi apa mau dikata dalam waktu 15 menit sebelum pertandingan usai gawang yang dijaga oleh kiper Peter Cech, kiper yang merupakan salah satu kiper terbaik di dunia dihujani tiga gol an salah satu gol tersebut tercipta berkat blunder kiper tersebut.

Sedangkan Prancis, mereka memang berada pada “group neraka” yang diisi Itali dan Belanda, tapi walaupun begitu, dapat dilihat memang performa Prancis pada Euro 2008 ini bisa dikatakan buruk, mereka tidak mengoleksi satu kemenangan pun. Italia pun bisa lolos babak eliminasi group ini dikarenakan faktor keberuntungan karena Rumania kalah oleh Belanda, jika saja Rumania menang dua tim besar gagal lolos di group yang sama, sungguh dramatis jika hal itu terjadi.

Pada babak perempat final, kejutan terbesar terjadi pada saat tim raksasa Belanda dikalahkan secara mengejutkan oleh Rusia. Bagaimana tidak tim yang difavoritkan juara oleh banyak kalangan karena performa mereka sangat meyakinkan di babak eliminasi group dapat dikalahkan tim Rusia yang diproyeksikan banyak orang hanya menjadi pemanis pada Euro 2008 kali ini.

Kemenangan-kemenangan besar pada babak eliminasi group seakan tidak ada artinya. Dalam pertandingan itu memang dapat dilihat dari segi performa Belanda kalah oleh Rusia. Kita patut mengacungkan jempol pada Guus Hidink, pelatih Rusia asal Belanda tersebut telah meramu strategi yang sangat apik sehingga tim Belanda dengan “total football”nya tidak berkutik di hadapan Rusia.

Tim lain yang mengalami kepahitan di perempat final adalah Kroasia, tim yang menyingkirkan Inggris di babak kulaifikasi ini dan pada babak eliminasi group tidak menelan satu kekalahanpun tersebut dikalahkan tim Turki denga dramatis pada babak adu penalti. Selain itu dua nama besar Portugal dan Itali dikalahkan dua tim besar lainnya Jerman dan Spanyol.

Tim-tim besar telah banyak berguguran dan tersisa empat tim yaitu Jerman, Spanyol, Rusia, dan Turki. Akankah terjadi kejutan demi kejutan lagi? Apakah dua tim “underdog” Rusia dan Turki akan dapat mengalahkan dua raksasa Spanyol dan Jerman? Rusia dengan faktor pelatih Guus Hidink dan para pemain mudanya yang potensial dan Turki dengan semangat pantang meyerah dan tentunya factor keberuntungannya.

Kita lihat saja nanti, tetapi yang perlu diingat filosofi ”Bola itu bundar”, semua hal dapat terjadi dalam sepakbola. Jangan sampai tim besar jerman dan Spanyol meremehkan lawan-lawan mereka, karena hal itu dapat menjadi bumerang bagi mereka sendiri.(dn)

Who Is the Euro2008 Winner

Germany

Spain

Russia

Turkey

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/

Croatia vs Turkey Prediction

The second round of the 2008 EURO Quarter Finals gets started, on Friday June 20, with Croatia vs Turkey, at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna. Turkey will be without their starting goalie after he was suspended two games. Will this favor a Croatian team that’s proven themselves offensively throughout the EURO Group stages? Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com think so as Croatia are -115 moneyline favs over Turkey who are listed as +320 underdogs. Get your Croatia vs Turkey: EURO 2008 Quarter Final Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com

Turkey finished second in Group A standings with a 2W-0D-1L record after losing their opener to Portugal 0-2, then beating Switzerland 2-1 and the Czech Republic 3-2. They scored five goals and allowed five. Nihat Kahveci (2), Arda Turan (2) and Semih Senturk are the goal scorers for Turkey. A big blow to the Turks is the two game suspension to goalie Volkan Demirel after he pushed Czech striker Jan Koller to the ground in an off-the-ball incident. He sat on the bench after his dismissal when he should have left the technical area, thus the two game ban. 2002 World Cup keeper Rustu Recber will take Volkan's place. Defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio is suspended for the quarter-final after picking up a second yellow card against the Czechs and captain Emre Belozoglu has a hamstring problem and has not played since their opening Group A defeat by Portugal. Central defender Emre Gungor, who was carried off in the second half of Sunday's match, has a calf strain and is out of the tournament. Turkey is going to have to rely on players that haven’t played in this tournament or haven’t played enough. They have a total of seven starting players out. But despite all that’s bad Turkey will continue to attack Croatia. “We have been disappointing in the first half of our matches but I think this happened because we were trying to spot our opponents' weak spots so we could attack them in the second. Against Croatia, we will start aggressively, at a high-tempo.” Defender Sabri Sarioglu added. “Our biggest advantage is that we never give up.”said coach Fatih Terim. Get your Croatia vs Turkey: EURO 2008 Quarter Final Prediction in now

Croatia finished first in Group B standings after a perfect 3W-0D-0L record. They shutout Austria 1-0, beat Germany 2-1 and shutout Poland 1-0. They had four goals for and one goal against. Ivan Klasnic, Ivica Olic, Darijo Srna and Luka Modric are the goal scorers for Croatia. Croatia striker Igor Budan will miss the rest of Euro 2008 with a knee injury and defender Dario Knezevic is out with a knee injury after their 1-0 Group B win over Poland on Monday. Croatia has been impressive throughout Group qualifying but they don’t feel like they’ve proven anything yet by making the final eight. “We don't see ourselves as a revelation any more, although some people perhaps still do. In our own eyes, we haven't achieved anything spectacular by reaching the last eight because that was our primary objective before the tournament started” coach Slaven Bilic said. Croatia have great talent and if they can play as a team instead of depending on individual players, they will be a force to reckon with.

Head to Head: 3 matches played
Croatia leads 1-0
2 matches ended in a draw
Croatia scored four goals
Turkey scored three goals

from: http://www.point-spreads.com/

Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic

Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic: Turkish delight as sensational knockout blow floors Czechs

TURKEY 3
Turan (75), Nihat (87, 89)
CZECH REPUBLIC 2
Koller (34), Plasil (62)

TURKEY captain Nihat Kahveci admitted it was an "unbelievable feeling" to see his team recover from a two-goal deficit to earn a last-gasp 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in a Group A thriller in Geneva last night.

The Villarreal striker grabbed a sensational double in the final four minutes to complete a memorable comeback by the Turks, who finished second in their pool and now face Croatia in a quarter-final tie in Vienna on Friday.

The extraordinary recovery in a winner-takes-all match was sparked when Arda Turan halved the deficit in the 75th minute but nothing could have prepared his side for what was to follow. Nihat, whose first goal came after a ghastly handling error by Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, said: "Up until we went 2-0 down, we didn't play well but we didn't give up.

"The first goal was the key, the turning point, and it created concern within the Czechs.

"I managed to make the most of the mistake by their keeper to score the second and then I got the third. You don't get many games like this in tournaments like these and the feeling was enormous to see the ball hit the back of the net.

"To see that goal qualify us for the quarter-final is an unbelievable feeling. We are so happy we did it."

The Czechs, who had never lost to Turkey in 11 previous meetings, looked home and dry in the 61st minute when Jaroslav Plasil added to Jan Koller's first-half opener to put his team 2-0 ahead.

But the Turks' never-say-die attitude enabled them to mount an unlikely recovery in the pouring rain at the Stade de Geneve. And coach Fatih Terim claimed he always had faith in his side's ability to respond.

"I am very pleased to have a team that doesn't give up, that doesn't stop until the referee blows the final whistle," said Terim.

A penalty shoot-out loomed if the match had ended as a draw after 90 minutes but it looked long odds against that prospect the way Turkey played in the first half. They were dreadful and looked a team gripped by nerves as they failed to trouble Cech in the opening 45 minutes.

The more experienced Czechs, semi-finalists at the Euros four years ago, looked assured from the off and should have been more than a goal ahead at the interval.

It was one-way traffic, the ever-dangerous Libor Sionko firing just over from the diagonal in the 25th minute as the nervous Turks continued to relinquish possession.

The goal the Czechs deserved came nine minutes later, Juventus full-back Grygera galloping down the right and crossing for Koller to power home a trademark header in emphatic style from eight yards out.

That was the towering targetman's 55th international goal and the Nurnberg targetman, who will now quit international football.

The Czechs looked more tentative after the break but Plasil settled any nerves with their second just after the hour mark when he got on the end of Sionko's right-wing cross to prod home at the far post. It seemed all over but Arda set up a tense final 15 minutes when he slid home a low finish past Cech after pouncing on a Hamit Altintop centre.

When Cech spilled a deep cross from the right, allowing Nihat to force home the equaliser into an empty net with three minutes remaining, an historic shoot-out beckoned as both sides were locked together on head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.

But worse was to come for Cech when barely a minute later, Nihat made the most of some dreadful defending to latch on to a through-ball and curl home a superb finish off the bar.

Czech coach Karel Bruckner admitted his side's defending was not up to scratch in that sensational final quarter of an hour. "After our second goal, we controlled the game and we had several chances to decide the match," said Bruckner "But then Turkey scored, we had problems on the left side and we surrendered to the Turks."

Bruckner, who will step down from the post after seven years in charge, was asked how long it would take for him to recover from the defeat. "Very many nights," said the 68-year-old.

Turkey: Demirel, Altintop, Gungor (Asik 65), Cetin, Balta, Topal (Kazim-Richards 57), Aurelio, Turan, Sanli, Nihat, Senturk (Sarioglu 46).

Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Sionko (Vlcek 84), Matejovsky (Jarolim 39), Galasek, Polak, Plasil (Kadlec 80), Koller. Booked: Galasek, Ujfalusi.

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

Portugal 2-0 Turkey

The match is playes in Geneva, Stade de Geneve!

Portugal lineup: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nuno Gomes.

Subs: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fernando Meira, Raul Meireles, Hugo Almeida, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Quaresma, Veloso, Nani, Postiga, Quim.

Turkey lineup: Demirel, Altintop, Cetin, Zan, Balta, Kazim-Richards, Emre, Aurelio, Erding, Sanli, Nihat.

Subs: Rustu, Zengin, Topal, Senturk, Karadeniz, Metin, Gungor, Turan, Asik, Boral, Akman, Sarioglu.

1′ - The match begins

4′ - Kazim Kazim gets the yellow card.

5′ - Cristiano Ronaldo cuts in from the right and his first shot of the tournament goes high over the bar.

10′ - Pepe commits a foul after challenging Tuncay Sanli

14′ - Chance for Turkey and Tuncay is through on goal - but falls over the challenge.

16′ - Hakan Balta gives away a free kick following a challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo

17′ - Pepe scores but the goal is not validated for off side! Good decision from the referees!

18′ - Tuncay Sanly commits foul after challenging Pepe.

19′ - Nihat shoots and gets a corner

23′ - Simao is flagged for offside

24′ - Hakan Balta gives away a free kick following a challenge on Bosingwa

25′ - Deco fouls.

28′ - Mehmet Aurelio commits a foul after challenging Deco

30′ - Simao has a free kick, but shoots over the goal

30′ - Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles but misses the target

31′ - Ferreira is flagged for offside

34′ - Servet Cetin fouls

38′ - Cristiano Ronaldo hits the post

38′ - Hamit Altintop misses the target

40′ - Nuno Gomes misses the target, Portugal receives corner kick

41′ - Moutinho misses the target, Portugal have started to turn up the pressure on Turkey

44′ - Kazim Kazim gives away a free kick following a challenge on Pepe

46′ - Referee blows for half time

Erdinc out, Sabri in!

46′ - Second Half Begins

47′ - Tuncay Sanli gives away a free kick following a challenge on Pepe

48′ - Nihat asks for penalty kick, but the referee doesn’t think it was a foul

49′ - Nuno Gomes hits the post

49′ - Gokhan receives the yellow card after a foul on Simao

52′ - Cristiano Ronaldo for Nuno Gomes but Aurelio clears

53′ - Emre Asik in, Gokhan Zan out

54′ - Cristiano Ronaldo shoots, Demirel saves

57′ Hamit Altintop gives away a free kick after a foul on Ronaldo

58′ - Joao Moutinho shoots a little over the goal

60′ - Sabri misses the target

61′ - GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Pepe scores!

63′ - Sabri commits foul

65′ - Nuno Gomes hits the crossbar

69′ - Nani in, Nuno Gomes out, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the captain

70′ - Deco has a shot blocked

71′ - Emre Belozoglu gives away a free kick following a challenge on Deco

73′ - Sabri is booked.

74′ - Ricardo makes a mistake, but Turkey doesn’t manage to score

76′ - Semih Senturk in, Hamit Altintop out

79′ - Joao Moutinho commits a foul after challenging Semih Senturk

82′ - Simao out, Meireles in

84′ - Kazim Kazim fouls

85′ - Emre Belozoglu has a shot blocked

87′ - Nani has a shot, Demirel saves

89′ - Nihat Kahveci commits foul on Nani

90′ + 2′ - GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAL! Raul Meireles scores after a superb drible of Cristiano Ronaldo

90′ + 3′ - Final whistle

from http://footballeurocup2008.info/about/portugal-vs-turkey-live-score/