GERMANY 3 vs 2 TURKEY
Germany: Schweinsteiger 26, Klose 79, Lahm 90
Turkey: Uğur Boral 22, Semih Şentürk 86
Entertainment value: 4/5
Germany: Schweinsteiger 26, Klose 79, Lahm 90
Turkey: Uğur Boral 22, Semih Şentürk 86
Entertainment value: 4/5
What a thrilling match, almost anyway. Lucky Germany overcome a luckless Turkey to advance into the finals of the Euro 2008 championships.
On 20th minute, Turkey finally took the lead after having put Germany to the sword in the past 20 minutes. Where Portugal were largely ineffective in trying to beat the Germans with their flamboyant style, Turkey were more direct and over-ran the German players all over the pitch, especially in defence, with hard running and quick movement on and off the ball.
Just as suddenly, against the run of play, Germany equalized in the 26th minute. 1-1 at half-time.
Germany had ceded possession often, their passing were too casual, wayward and astray due to lapses in concentration and players under-hitting their passes. Turkey, already exerting much pressure, often took advantage of this by quickly hitting Germany on the counter-attack. Germany were lucky that Turkey did not blow them out of sight in the first half alone.
More or less the same story in the 2nd half but with much lesser shots on goals. In a cat-and-mouse half, Turkey were at one time stringing a lot of passes that lasted for almost two minutes outside the German penalty box where up to 8 German players were encamped. Germany were in dire need of inspiration as Joachim Low, the coach, cheered on from the sidelines. Maybe that was the gameplan, if so, it did work in the end, but did they win any fans over, apart from their own fans? Hardly any, I would think.
At this point, in the 70th minute, I was almost bored to death. Just as it looked like I will have to change channels, I endured another ten more minutes and things heated up then.
In the 79th minute, Turkey were punished when poor goalkeeping judgement of a harmless punt from the byline allowed Klose to head into an open net for a 2-1 Germany lead. Turkish fans were in despair.
But true to form, Turkey battled hard as ever and once again came from behind for the 4th successive match to equalize at 2-2 on 86th minute. Another poor goalkeeping judgement, this time from the German custodian, allowed Senturk to sneak in a goal of another seemingly harmless cross.
The match has certainly come to life now.
Just as extra-time looms, Germany finally overcame the Turkish strangehold on the match when Lahm, a right-legged left-back, cut infield with his right foot, played a one-two and coolly finishing off for the match winner in the last minute of normal time. 3-2, Germany wins.
Germany has not been the best team in the tournament but they sure know how to win a football match. Can they win the same way in the final against either Spain or Russia, both of whom are hardly dull, that remains to be seen. Turkey can look at this match as a steep learning curve but still hold their heads up high knowing they had played better than Germany, scant consolation that may be.
On 20th minute, Turkey finally took the lead after having put Germany to the sword in the past 20 minutes. Where Portugal were largely ineffective in trying to beat the Germans with their flamboyant style, Turkey were more direct and over-ran the German players all over the pitch, especially in defence, with hard running and quick movement on and off the ball.
Just as suddenly, against the run of play, Germany equalized in the 26th minute. 1-1 at half-time.
Germany had ceded possession often, their passing were too casual, wayward and astray due to lapses in concentration and players under-hitting their passes. Turkey, already exerting much pressure, often took advantage of this by quickly hitting Germany on the counter-attack. Germany were lucky that Turkey did not blow them out of sight in the first half alone.
More or less the same story in the 2nd half but with much lesser shots on goals. In a cat-and-mouse half, Turkey were at one time stringing a lot of passes that lasted for almost two minutes outside the German penalty box where up to 8 German players were encamped. Germany were in dire need of inspiration as Joachim Low, the coach, cheered on from the sidelines. Maybe that was the gameplan, if so, it did work in the end, but did they win any fans over, apart from their own fans? Hardly any, I would think.
At this point, in the 70th minute, I was almost bored to death. Just as it looked like I will have to change channels, I endured another ten more minutes and things heated up then.
In the 79th minute, Turkey were punished when poor goalkeeping judgement of a harmless punt from the byline allowed Klose to head into an open net for a 2-1 Germany lead. Turkish fans were in despair.
But true to form, Turkey battled hard as ever and once again came from behind for the 4th successive match to equalize at 2-2 on 86th minute. Another poor goalkeeping judgement, this time from the German custodian, allowed Senturk to sneak in a goal of another seemingly harmless cross.
The match has certainly come to life now.
Just as extra-time looms, Germany finally overcame the Turkish strangehold on the match when Lahm, a right-legged left-back, cut infield with his right foot, played a one-two and coolly finishing off for the match winner in the last minute of normal time. 3-2, Germany wins.
Germany has not been the best team in the tournament but they sure know how to win a football match. Can they win the same way in the final against either Spain or Russia, both of whom are hardly dull, that remains to be seen. Turkey can look at this match as a steep learning curve but still hold their heads up high knowing they had played better than Germany, scant consolation that may be.
akim - the Italian fan