Turkey has perfected the great escape.
What can I say because this FOOTBALL and that’s one of the reasons why they call this game is The Most Beautiful Game in the World. It’s a worth when you stayed-up till the wee hour in the morning just to watch a game with a dramatic finished like this.
The Turks taught the European Championship another lesson in fortitude Friday night to advance to next stage
When Ivan Klasnić headed in Luka Modrić’s cross with a minute of the overtime period to play, Croatia looked to have booked their place in Wednesday’s semi-final. (and I can see Bilic celebrated like he just won 4-D after betting 1000 Big and 1000 Small). However, for the third game running, Turkey sensationally hit back at the death to force the first shoot-out of these finals when Semih Şentürk drove in, with the aid of a deflection, from just inside the area.
Turkey, who reached the last four of the 2002 World Cup, secured a place in the European Championship semi-finals for the first time after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Croatia in Vienna to set up a meeting with Germany in the Euro 2008 semi-finals
Eventhough Croatia enjoyed the better chances during normal time and should have taken the lead in the first half when Ivica Olic hit the crossbar from close range following excellent work by Modric. Towards the end of the second half, Turkey keeper Rustu produced a flying one-handed save to turn away Darijo Srna’s free-kick.
Turkey created little at the opposite end, with Mehmet Topal shaving the post with a long-range drive and Tuncay Sanli flashing a 25-yard drive narrowly wide. With a minute to go, Modric beat Rustu to a loose ball on the by-line and clipped in a cross which substitute Ivan Klasnic headed home as the Turkey keeper scrambled back.
But in stoppage-time, Rustu’s huge punt downfield fell kindly at the feet of Semih Senturk just inside the box and he smashed a fierce drive into the top corner via a slight deflection.
Tottenham-bound Modric missed the first penalty and, after Turkey converted all three of their spot-kicks, Petric’s attempt was parried away by Rustu to book a semi-final date with Germany next Wednesday.
=> The good note of this game, will be some advantages to Germany whom I think will beat The Turks and make a showdown with Italy or Dutch in Euro 2008 final. It’s not that I don’t believe in Turkey but they really – really need something special ( a big help from GOD maybe) and what had happened in Athens four years back is never gonna happen again…