Croatia-Turkey, Quarterfinals, EURO 2008 [R]

[4evermedi]

I agree, the Croats most likely grew as a team today and I was also impressed with their unity as a team. They will be a force in the world cup. To me they were the toughest opponents a full-rostered Turkish team could have faced in the tournament.

Their biggest folly is they have not shown good finishing skills today. Everyone including their coach talks about the luck of the Turks. You can get lucky once, maybe even twice but three times? Come on everyone give credit where it is due...the Turks know how to finish. Semih's goal was not an easy shot...the Croats had easier chances to score and could not capitalize on.

I don't know who said that it was a yawner, I think it was one hell of a game. European football rocks.;)

[DannyCro]

Congratulations to Turkish fans.

[Gandalf The Red]

I agree, the Croats most likely grew as a team today and I was also impressed with their unity as a team. They will be a force in the world cup. To me they were the toughest opponents a full-rostered Turkish team could have faced in the tournament.

Their biggest folly is they have not shown good finishing skills today. Everyone including their coach talks about the luck of the Turks. You can get lucky once, maybe even twice but three times? Come on everyone give credit where it is due...the Turks know how to finish. Semih's goal was not an easy shot...the Croats had easier chances to score and could not capitalize on.

I don't know who said that it was a yawner, I think it was one hell of a game. European football rocks.;)

It was an interesting game, the croats needed to step it up a gear abit more but they air'd on Caution.

Begrudingling Congradts (However You team is too negative and too lucky for my liking, so I want you beaten)

Greeces Luck ----------------> Turkey

[Gandalf The Red]

How do you propose knock out games end if they're tied after 90 or 120 minutes?

Let's hear your solution.

90minutes over.


extra time, first 15 mins each team must withdraw 1 player
second 15 mins each team must withdraw another player
allow each team a further Sub in extratime.

Dropping each team to 10 men, then 9 men will create more space, giving each team afresh sub will exploit the space left by tired legs.

I doubt many ET will goto penalties.

[Gandalf The Red]

haha:D dont matter the oppenent !!

He who laughs last remember that funboy

I have Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland to bring you luckers down muhahahhahahhahaha

[Almogavar92]

This comparison to Greece is misplaced and based more on geographic association and simply because Greece was the champions in 2004 and we're in 2008.

The Greeks scored 7 goals in six games last time around. Their game was based on a defensive structure that relied solely on counter attacks or set pieces for goals. In four matches, Turkiye have scored six goals... arising from open play and none from set pieces or even a penalty. In a game that was played with caution on both ends, it's highly erroneous that some here want to say that Turkiye is the next Greece. Luck maybe a factor, but it's not the only factor. Arda's goal, Nihat's goal and then Semih's goal in extra time... has anyone taken time to see how these shots were executed? Almost all three were near the edge of the box or pretty close. We're not talking about tap in goals or deflections of ridiculous proportions... Arda comes in from the flank against Switzerland, passes two defenders and rips a shot (takes a slight deflection). Nihat picks up a pass, then executes a perfect bending shot (hits the bar)... Semih takes a volley that passes between two defenders into the top corner.... LUCK? Do the people making these assertions play football? Do they realize how hard it is to hit a shot and the skill that is required?

[Gandalf The Red]

Have you seen 'non-official' tournaments where they try this? Everybody just shrinks into a more and more defensive formation the smaller the side gets. Goals become less and less likely.

Same thing that happens when teams get players sent off.

You counter this by allowing a further sub or maybe 2

[willy_svw]

I´m definitely looking forward to see Germany vs. Turkey, but I´m not looking forward to everything what happens aside the pitch...everyone living in Germany might know what I mean....

[Pakalolo]

Whatever 11 Terim puts out there the Turks will give the Germans fits as we will control the tempo of the game. They have more size, we have more skill. Just stop Ballack with his headers and you take away a lot from the German team.

ugh, first congrats to the Turks, great EC so far. but do you really think that the only advantage the German team has is size? :confused:
and what do you mean with skill? because when you mean technical skills, I've seen nothing yesterday which warrants such a claim. or didn't you see Germanys first goal f.e.? to claim that the German team are solely 6 foot robots you can run and jump is totally wrong. players like Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Ballack ... have great skills.

[soccer333]

Ok man no need to get pissed on here. Stick with the topic and save your pity, discriminating opinions to yourself..

[1a Schnitzel]

I´m definitely looking forward to see Germany vs. Turkey, but I´m not looking forward to everything what happens aside the pitch...everyone living in Germany might know what I mean....

Well I live in a tiny Green Zone in between Berlin Kreuzberg and Neukölln. These districts surrounding me make Berlin the third largest turkish city in the world.

However I am convinced that we wont experience any serious troubles in case Germany would win. Most turks here have three hearts, two for turkey and one for Germany. And so it is no suprise that their cars carry the same amount of flags. The usual suspects will behave if their brothers and even fathers celebrate alongside them.

[shalom82]

Croatia was the better team over the course of the game, but I cant imagine a team being able to come back with their head on straight for the shootout after that finish.

I can. It's called Turkey!:D

[soccer333]

Why don't you pick a team and stick with it? Or did your favorite team already lose to Turkiye and you just want to see Turkiye lose? To me that's pretty hateful man. You need a happy pill..

[Gandalf The Red]

Why don't you pick a team and stick with it? Or did your favorite team already lose to Turkiye and you just want to see Turkiye lose? To me that's pretty hateful man. You need a happy pill..

shouldnt u be support San Jose funboy, dont preach to me!
all u american funboys with several affiliations:mad:

[Gandalf The Red]

ugh, first congrats to the Turks, great EC so far. but do you really think that the only advantage the German team has is size? :confused:
and what do you mean with skill? because when you mean technical skills, I've seen nothing yesterday which warrants such a claim. or didn't you see Germanys first goal f.e.? to claim that the German team are solely 6 foot robots you can run and jump is totally wrong. players like Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Ballack ... have great skills.

I know I find this amusing those 4 germans are worth more on the market then the entire turkish squad:cool:

[soccer333]

First of all congrats to Turks. And for Croatia, I got pretty emotional when I watched your whole team in sadness on the pitch after a tough loss. I support Turkiye in this tourney with all my heart as their style speaks of who I am as a person as well as on the pitch. I have played competitive futbol for years with countless nationalities on my team and I know what it's like to win and lose, especially in PKs.
It is definitely going to be a tough match against Germany. But I am hoping Turks have 1 or 2 more tricks left in them. After all if I didn't believe in miracles before, after the last 3 games Turkiye played I definitely do now..

Remember people, Turkiye was the 3rd place winner during 2002 World Cup and Rustu was a giant then as well. Six years later he still has people talking about him..

When some people get on here and make comments such as them wanting to see Turkiye lose regardless of who beats them is what gets me upset. That's just pure hate. Someone who watched this team in this tournament who can still make these comments can not be a true fan of this game. Because no matter what religion you believe in or where you come from if this Turkiye team has not impressed you then I find it hard to believe that these people are true fans. That leaves only one possibility. Their hate of Turkiye has exceeded the love they have for this game. You know who you are..

[VCFan]

Yes, Volkan might come bcak (if They reduce his penalty to one game only). There is yet another goalie on the roster. So, if you don't count the two spare goalies, there are only 13 field players to put up a team.

But, it does not matter...truly there is not that much difference between the top four and bottom four on this team. Turkiye has a lot of good midfielders besides Arda and Tuncay. Where we will be short is on the defensive line. I see the Croats as a stronger team than Germany. Whatever 11 Terim puts out there the Turks will give the Germans fits as we will control the tempo of the game. They have more size, we have more skill. Just stop Ballack with his headers and you take away a lot from the German team.

WOW :eek:

Certainly don't lack for confidence, these Turks :rolleyes:

[Black Label]

When some people get on here and make comments such as them wanting to see Turkiye lose regardless of who beats them is what gets me upset. That's just pure hate.

Dude, you don't have to deal with hundreds of Turks honking in your street all night ;)

[lanman]

They shouldn't clear suspensions but FIFA/UEFA should seriously consider utilizing video technology to overturn bogus yellow cards issued for silly things. I remember in Euro 2004, Pavel Nedved got a yellow card in the quarterfinal when a Danish player dived and he didn't touch him! If Nedved had gotten another yellow like that and Czechs reached the final, he would've missed it. With this being the year 2008, you'd think the governing bodies of football would think to try and apply technology to breed fairness but I guess not.

The SFA wanted to use video evidence to retrospectively punish divers and FIFA/UEFA were flat against it. You've also got the president of UEFA pretty much saying that diving is acceptable.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/07/euro2008?gusrc=rss&feed=football

Given that, I can't see anything happening with unjust yellow cards.


On the topic of suspensions for accummulated yellow cards, what I would like to see is a suspension only enforced if a player is booked in consecutive games.

[besiktasfan]

He who laughs last remember that funboy

I have Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland to bring you luckers down muhahahhahahhahaha

and u are not either german , spanish , italian or dutch , are you ??? haha what a pitty . i wish u were able to talk about your team instead of talking other national teamms :) u are hoping maybe even praying that some one will beat turkey .. (i said '' dont matter the oppenent'' as a response to ur comment which saying that : croatian team is much better than swiss and czechs and turkey can not do it again) u keep on hoping u racist dude !