Turkey Reach Semi-Finals After Beating Croatia On Penalties

June 21, 2008 by CLDsport

Croatia 1 v 1 Turkey (Turkey win 3-1 on penalties)

The first penalty shoot-out of the tournament has ensured Turkey advance to the semi-finals where they will face Germany - at Croatia’s expense.

It proved to be an extraordinary end to a otherwise awful, dull encounter. The majority of the match had been unattractive, scrappy, and certainly not entertaining.

Despite this, Croatia really should have opened the scoring in the 18th minute. New Spurs’ man Luka Modric - easily the most creative player this evening - created what looked like a simple chance for Olic. Somehow however, the striker managed to smash the ball against the crossbar from only 6 yards out.

Possible Arsenal signing Niko Kranjcar then headed the rebound over the bar - with the Croatia bench already celebrating what looked a certain goal.

Olic was to waste many more chances before the final whistle was blown. CLDsport counted 4 that he really should be expected to score. These missed opportunities cost Croatia the game. Slaven Bilic’s team were dominant, but still looked awful, and they could not find a way to make that dominance count.

Olic again wasted a chance with just 1 minute left of normal time, as he missed the target with the last kick before extra time.

The tables seemed to turn as extra time got under way, with Turkey looking the better team. Both Semih and Tuncay came extremely close to putting the Turks ahead, both missing by inches.

With seconds left on the clock, and penalties looming, Croatia finally scored the first goal of the night. Fans, players, and coaching staff alike thought it would be the winner.

Rustu made (for want of a better expression) a pig’s ear of tackle on Modric. He inexplicably raced out of his goal and got nowhere near Modric. The Spurs man crossed and Rustu was left in no man’s land while Klasnic headed into an empty net.

Turkey have already come back from the dead once in the tournament, when they scored against the Czech Republic to send them through to the quarters in the dying seconds. It seems they cannot be underestimated when they are looking doomed!

They equalised with virtually the last kick of the game, when Semih finished neatly after Croatia failed to clear a desperate long free-kick into the box from Rustu. Everybody involved with Croatia looked distraught. Only moments earlier they had been wildly celebrating what seemed to be the goal that would take them through to the meeting with Germany.

Bilic’s team never seemed to recover from this, and looked doomed before the first penalty kick was taken. As it was, Luka Modric missed the first one, which was hardly the ideal start.

Arda, Semih and Hamit scored for Turkey, but Srna was the only man to score for Croatia. Rakitic missed and Rustu (villain just minutes before) saved from Petric.

So, a dramatic ending, to an awful game. Definitely one for the highlights - i.e. the last 5 minutes!

Turkey now face Germany for a place in the final. A daunting task some might say, but Turkey will be brimming with confidence, and will not give up. Ignore them at your peril Germany!

Share and Enjoy: