Croatia-Turkey, Quarterfinals, EURO 2008 [R]

[besiktasfan]

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?

I agree with all u have written !

[shalom82]

I think Germany will make it past Turkey. But I hope Turkey wins.
No matter how boring their game is, I have nothing but respect for the heart they put into the field. They have beaten opponents that are far stronger than them, and I wish them to go as far as possible in this tournament.

Portugal needs to see, to realise that it's not just technique that makes a team.

[The Natural]

Aside from the numerous backhanded compliments given to Turkey they have truly added so much to this tournament. Can't stop watching their last minute goals enough and to see defenses break down with costly mistakes and how the Turks were able to exploit those errors. What happened yesterday was just way too surprising just when I thought Turkey was getting a taste of their own medicine with that late Croation goal they found a way to come back yet again.

[BlitzKrieg]

There is a lot of crap being said here. I don't care if it is the first or the 100th time they have scored late comeback goals. It is still luck which follows Turkey amazingly. I honestly congratulate them on a battling display and a victory in the end. I respect every oponent but yesterday Croatia outplayed Turkey and we have failed to turn superiority into a clear win. I am really dissapointed with the referees again although I am not saying they are the cause of our loss. The fourth ref didn't let the last substitute to happen and no one ever showed any 2 minutes of extra time. This time it caused something unlike against Austria where we won despite the obvious helping to the hosts. Sad, but still proud to be Croat.

[Borussia]

Congrats to Turkey on making the surprise and reaching the semi-final! What an impressive comeback once again after the late 0:1 shocker! :eek: Kudos!

A revenge game against Croatia would have been nice ... but a match between Germany & Turkey is always very interesting & exciting! ;)

[glennaldo_sf]

I agree that the Greece - Turkey comparisons are misleading. Turkey's success is surprising, especially given the circumstances. However, anyone who knows anything about footballl knows that Turkey's football team is a force to be reckoned with. Greece came from completely out of the blue to win that tournament and were, in my opinion the least likely winners, albeit Latvia to win Euro 2004. That's what made Greece such a huge success story - it would have been a bit like Angola winning the world cup.

Let's not forget that this Turkey side has players who played in world cup semifinal and euro cup quarterfinal just six and eight years ago respectively. Also, thanks to the success of Fenerbache, they have a lot of players with champions league experience and pedigree. No one expected Turkey to make it to the semifinals but I don't see what is so surprising about Turkey coming second in a group containing Switzerland and an ageing Czech Republic.

Turkey's success story is a unique one thats pretty incomparable to anything we've witnessed before - with all the injuries and suspensions and the consecutive last minute comebacks. Comparing Turkey to Greece is a little disrespectful of this Turkey team and undermining of Greece's extraordinary accomplishment some 4 years ago. The only team in this tournament that would have fit that bill would have been Austria but they left early as we can all see.

[Almogavar92]

I am really dissapointed with the referees again although I am not saying they are the cause of our loss. The fourth ref didn't let the last substitute to happen and no one ever showed any 2 minutes of extra time. This time it caused something unlike against Austria where we won despite the obvious helping to the hosts. Sad, but still proud to be Croat.

We were disappointed with the referee as well... especially when he failed to award a penalty when Tuncay was taken down in the box and the numerous questionable calls... its a two way street this refereeing business.

[1a Schnitzel]

the match may have appeared boring but I guess we all agree that the Croatians are far from being considered an easy victim. As we know now, two goals advantage dont mean jack against the turks in the 65th minute.

[Darryl]

Congrats to Turkey, so far my favorite team of the tournament. If they meet the Netherlands in the final then I won't know what to do...

How anyone can complain about the goal coming too late? Rustu launched his free kick at 56 seconds into extra time, Semih's goal went in at 1:01. There was a minute of stoppage time. If Croatia hadn't celebrated for so long. What did you expect the ref to do, blow the whistle while Semih is winding up his kick?

And anyone who is scowling over Turkey must have no love of this sport. I never had any feelings for Turkey one way or another, but unless you're Swiss, Czech or Croatian, how can you not be captivated and thrilled by Turkey's never-give-up resolution and their heart? Especially in the last two games, you saw it, their players wanted it more, they deserve what they've got and they're making this tournament one to remember. I've watched their last three games almost breathless. I hope they come back again against Germany.

Here's a good article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article4184064.ece

[MarocFAN]

Congrats Turkey!
I think i will leave Germany next wednesday:D

[roxbury]

Congrats to Turkey, so far my favorite team of the tournament. If they meet the Netherlands in the final then I won't know what to do...

How anyone can complain about the goal coming too late? Rustu launched his free kick at 56 seconds into extra time, Semih's goal went in at 1:01. There was a minute of stoppage time. If Croatia hadn't celebrated for so long. What did you expect the ref to do, blow the whistle while Semih is winding up his kick?

And anyone who is scowling over Turkey must have no love of this sport. I never had any feelings for Turkey one way or another, but unless you're Swiss, Czech or Croatian, how can you not be captivated and thrilled by Turkey's never-give-up resolution and their heart? Especially in the last two games, you saw it, their players wanted it more, they deserve what they've got and they're making this tournament one to remember. I've watched their last three games almost breathless. I hope they come back again against Germany.

Here's a good article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article4184064.ece


Well said mate. a classy view.


All in all, its a game to play, one side win one side lose. thats all.
to congrats the winner team is not so hard i gues. isn't it.
both side played till the end ,and one side find a goal at late and other side find a goal in late too. at the end; the winner was Turkey.

I congrats to players spirit and never give up believe.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2008/06/ipt/1214025282.jpg

http://bookreviewsandmore.ca/uploaded_images/RockyBalboa-769691.jpg

[HeroOfTheStreet]

I think you didn`t get the point... bilić was calling a substitute when was an offside.. ********in referee did`t let the change altough it was a stopped game.. then turkey scored a goal in that action...

[roxbury]

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.


Germany has those players .

But, Turkiye has skillfull players I agree with Pakalolo.


-Yesterday and last 3 games, one of the most skillfull player in the team and tournament 'Emre Belozoglu' just played one single game in entire tournament duo to injury he had in first game action, if he be ready for match up versus Germany its gonna be crutial point for Turkish side.and there is another skilfull fresh leg Gokdeniz Karadeniz....
last night game there were good skillfull player at the field; Arda Turan,Modric.

@
yet you guys still bashing to Turkiye's tremendus run...
Turkiye played allmost all game since after Portugal game without 4-5 starters duo to injury and suspend. yet people dont respect this great run with less large squad. Croatia against to Poland rested 9 starters and they played same minutes last night versus no rested/tired players, plus injury players and suspention players of Turkiye.

and this team won the game by 120 minutes plus PK.

Cmon man, show atleast little respect duo to theyr breave performance and team spirit.


Theyr gonna have only 13 players avaible for Germany game.
I wish them deeply good luck.


Thank You.

[Lahmfan]

I think you didn`t get the point... bilić was calling a substitute when was an offside.. ********in referee did`t let the change altough it was a stopped game.. then turkey scored a goal in that action...
Thats true. But what can really be done here?:o its over and sad to see croatia lose like that...

[HeroOfTheStreet]

yea, man.. yesterday was the probably worst day in my life... domination thru the whole match, goal at the end.. man, that was dreamcometrue for me.. and than the whole thing crashed down for me.. damn... but, i have to say something about this madness about euro in croatia.. for two years nobody watched our league, because it suck, it really, really sucks... I wached that pathetic league for two years, I lived for footbal.. and now, some "big fans" are going to tell me how Croatia have a great team, and suprisingly, that guys never saw the stadium.. It`s funny, because, yesterday they "celebrate" croatia tema, and Croatia was "the only one"... today that same people telling me how Croatia have a horrible national team.. that same guys, rich guys, knows "some" people and they easily get the tickets, while the true fans, stayed at home.. Football is going to hell... my point is, that now that fans won`t even think about national team until 2010. when everybody will be "world class managers" :rolleyes:

[Todorov]

Congratulations to Turkey.

They've been having that "luck" that decides the winner and the loser in a match throughout this whole tournament and I just hope it continues for a little longer, at least up to the match against Germany. They'll be needing it and I hope they can pull it off once more.

Sentürk's goal was incredible, to say the least. I thought that after Rüstü had childlishly given up that goal, everything was over for these lads but they surprised me once again. Honestly, I was one of those who felt that this side had some chances of going into the knock-out stages from the beginning, but I never thought that they would show this competitive spirit.

Still, I think mr. Terim should play more offensively because they have the players to do it. I think he's being to over-cautious about waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. Not only is this dull football but it can prove disastrous if the opponent scores first as we've seen against Croatia. Sentürk's goal was out of desperation and nothing short of a miracle, to my mind.

As for the next game, they have to identify Germany's weak points and act accordingly. IMHO, they should play with more than just Nihat alone on front. Learn from Portugal's mistakes, my friends.

I'll be rooting for you. :cool:

[1903]

Croatia played better?

I admit that they had more chances to score than us but they played defensive football and got chances from counter-attack plus our silly mistakes.In additional minutes i think we raped them.

Croatia was exaggerated so much.They played well against only Germany and everbody put them among favourites of tournament.No way!

[HeroOfTheStreet]

Croatia played better?

I admit that they had more chances to score than us but they played defensive football and got chances from counter-attack plus our silly mistakes.In additional minutes i think we raped them.

Croatia was exaggerated so much.They played well against only Germany and everbody put them among favourites of tournament.No way!

first, congratulation on this victory, but facts are facts... Croatia was better thru the whole match, except in the second ET, thats because they were exhausted... you win, but world cup is ours, remember what i sad to you now :cool::D

[1903]

first, congratulation on this victory, but facts are facts... Croatia was better thru the whole match, except in the second ET, thats because they were exhausted... you win, but world cup is ours, remember what i sad to you now :cool::D

I hope you win World Cup,Euro Cup is enough to us for now :cool:

[maslow]

Proud to be Croat