Troubled Turkey became the most marvelous dark horses so far in Euro 2008
after booking a European semifinal place for their very first time in history
with a 3-1 shootout victory over subdued Croatia.
The two teams have draw 1-1 in 120 minutes and performed the first extra time
of the tournament as well as the first penalty shootout.
Luka Modric and Darijo Srna missed targets in their spot shots and Mladen
Petric's penalty was saved by Recber Rustu, while Turkey's Arda Turan, Semih
Senturk and Hamit Altintop all got their job well done to see Croatia out.
The Turks, dubbed the King of Comeback after a shocking 3-2 victory on Sunday
over the much more supported Czechs to make the last-eight show-up, again showed
their teeth here on Friday to deny a late chance of the Croats in the extra
time.
Ivan Klasnic's goal with just two minutes left should have wrapped up a
victory for Croatia, which was once regarded the hottest favorites to lift the
cup after beating three-time champions Germany last week 2-1 before making the
quarters with three wins in streak. But a Semih Senturk's shot in dying minute
cancelled it.
Picked up by Luka Modric's cross in very close range to the goalmouth,
Klasnic headed the ball in to the bottom right corner in the 119 minute, before
Senturk's left-footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner in the
dying minute.
The dramatic two-minute work pulled the Croats and the Turks into penalty
shootout as the quarterfinal match had already marked the first extra time of
the tournament after a goalless play in 90+4 minutes.
Turkey goalie Rustu, the former World Goalkeeper of the Year in2003 who only
started after his team's first choice keeper Volkan Demirel suspended for two
matches by UEFA, was definitely the one to thank on Turkey's through to semis,
not only for his heroic save in the penalty shootout.
The 35-year-old blocked a 47-minute header by Vedran Corlucka before tightly
saving Kranjcar's right-footed shot 10 minutes later.
Fatih Terim's side also impressed in counterattacks against the highly rated
Croats.
After an early nice work outside the area, a pass from Nihat Kahveci picked
up unnoticed right back Hamit Altintop, whose long shot in the fifth minute just
went wide.
Seven minutes later, Nihat Kahveci won a free kick in a dangerous spot on the
edge of the box after hammered by Croatia captain Niko Kovac. Hamit Altintop's
effort on goal, however, was perfectly blocked by Kovac, who bravely flied out
of the wall to take the shot full on his rib cage.
The high flying Turks, however, will head into the round of last four with a
long list of injuries and two regular starters suspended. Adding to the lose of
keeper Volkan, Turkey left winger Arda Turan, who tangled down Simunic in the 49
minute, will miss the semifinals after receiving his second yellow card in the
tournament.
Ivan Rakitic missed Croatia's best opportunity of the regular time on 70
minutes when the 20-year-old Schalke 04 left winger's right-footed shot, after a
cracking, flowing one-two play with Ivica Olic, went high wide with a suspected
push by a Turkey defender from the back.
Petric later won a 25-meter free kick in the 82nd minute when Gokhan Zan
accidently kicked the striker's ankle while cleaning up,and Darijo Srna's
swerving shot was arrowing towards the top corner only for Turkey goalie Rustu
to dive and flick it around the post.
Croatia earlier missed another chance before the interval. On 19 minutes,
Luka Modric scampered through the defence and played a gorgeous assist across
goal, but the sliding-in Ivica Olic just poked it on to the bar and Niko
Kranjcar headed the rebound over the target and wide to the right.
Modric pounded the turf in frustration, while Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, who
started to skip down the touchline in joy, pulled up short in disappointment.