Croatia-Turkey, Quarterfinals, EURO 2008 [R]

[NGV]

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?

Yeah - a minute of stoppage time was required (would it really be fair to let Croatia run out the clock while celebrating?) and it's pretty much standard for the ref to give the attacking team a few seconds to set up and execute a free kick or corner that's awarded just before the end of the added time.

Stoppage time is often an arbitrary mess, but in this case the ref did nothing wrong and the Croats only have themselves to blame for the last minute goal.

[HeroOfTheStreet]

Proud to be Croat

[Todorov]

Proud to be Croat


Hey, I'm glad you're proud of your nation, friend. Football is just a game and in the end you can't measure the pride you have in your country just by a football match.

You just don't need to "shout". :rolleyes:

[WhiteStar Warriors]

The last 2 minutes in this game was absolutely SICK:D

[K:theCore]

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:

I wouldnt go that far and call it domination....seemed like both teams had their moments and Croatia mightve been better in their organizational structure, but all things equal it was a very even match. Obviously almost a tossup.

Best sporting event Ive ever seen in my life. Damn...Im still shaking.

[Gandalf The Red]

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 !


I will funboy:cool:

[1a Schnitzel]

Proud to be Croat

Proud to value good football over national pride


:cool: Now lets stop shouting. it just anoys everyone.

[HeroOfTheStreet]

Hey, I'm glad you're proud of your nation, friend. Football is just a game and in the end you can't measure the pride you have in your country just by a football match.

You just don't need to "shout". :rolleyes:

sorry mate :D that was just c/p from some guy on the last page :D

[4evermedi]

Some extremely biased, short-sighted "fans" still bitch, moan and groan...but life goes on. Turkiye will keep on progressing in spite of Germany...and not just because of heart and mind and the fighting spirit. But, because even though we are now down to 12 healthy players (Nihat is out for the Germany game!), even if four Gremans cost more than the entire Turkish team, our boys are as good and simply have not been marketed and advertised like theirs. Turkiye is a factory of future great footballers...you are just witnessing the beginning of this wave. What started in the Euro years ago, continued in the world cup, and now here is more evidence of this fact. Better get used to it cause you will see them often in high places in football. That is why with the 12 left standing, we will give Germany all they can handle (or not handle). And yes, the Turks living in Germany have an extra beat in their hearts for the country they live in and contribute to. If Germany beats Turkiye (which I don't anticipate) they will be sad but will support their "other" team in the finals.

I recommend changing your attitude and enjoy each team for the quality of their play rather than hating them for certain ugly motives. I am saying this to those who deserve these comments...I have also seen some fair, honest and realistic, complimentary comments. Go, Turkiye!;)

[HeroOfTheStreet]

I think that every win, no matter how you get it, is deserved win.. every, except ofcourse sold game :D so the Turkey deserved their win... we had are chances and ruined them.. Turey had maybe two chances and they scored a goal.. Thats how big teams are wining... Once again, I congratulate them, but now I how to cheer for germany because i`m born in Germany :D Deutschland uber alles :p

[maslow]

Proud to be Croat


Isn't it incredible that small country with population of only 4 million people can beat England (50 mill), Poland (38 mill) and Germany (82 mill), and seems better than Turkey (71 mill) or Russia (145 mill)? All these country's have bigger city's than my whole country.

[Todorov]

Isn't it incredible that small country with population of only 4 million people can beat England (50 mill), Poland (38 mill) and Germany (82 mill), and seems better than Turkey (71 mill) or Russia (145 mill)? All these country's have bigger city's than my whole country.

In a nutshell, that's the magic of the sport. You can beat on the field bigger teams than your own (and lose to smaller ones too).

[1a Schnitzel]

And yes, the Turks living in Germany have an extra beat in their hearts for the country they live in and contribute to. If Germany beats Turkiye (which I don't anticipate) they will be sad but will support their "other" team in the finals.


Totally agree, as I said earlier I live in Berlin in an area where I meet turks 24/7. We are having a great time right now. I couldnt even buy my newspaper this morning without getting into a long chat with the guy behind the counter. He is of turkish origin (looked terribe this morning) and we were philosophing about the semi-finals.

I cant speak for the younger turks but the older ones I meet have indeed three hearts, two for turkey and one for Germany. I think that is already an achievement and I am more than happy with that.

The big party yesterday night (15.000 people) caused zero trouble and that is very rare in Berlin. The police was there but had nothing to do.

The turkish team has given all of us a great time so far and the matches were tremendously exiciting. However I doubt they will beat us, but in case they do and this in a great match then who cares. Football is a sport, not a silly clash of cultures.

[soccer333]

Just because I live in The States you think I am an American? You're not just unhappy, you're also stereotyping.. Open your mind to the possibilities perhaps you might have a smile on your face..

[soccer333]

So you want to see them lose because you have hundreds of Turks honking their horns and celebrating? Would you complain the same way if any other nationality, including yours did that when they won or is it just the Turks? I have the South Americans celebrating all the time around where I live but I don't go around praying that their team loses so their celebrations stop. I also have Americans celebrating when their teams win the Super Bowl or the World Series. For some reason I get this feeling that the success of Turks is hardly accepted by some if not many...

[soccer333]

Are you sure Croatia dominated Turkiye? You need to watch the game again. So what if you hit the crossbar? The possession and the threats both teams created were I think pretty equal. By the way there is a luck factor involved in just about every game. Yes I agree that luck has been on Turkiye's side but trust me it is not just luck that got them here to the semis. I have seen Germany getting lucky many times but I don't take away any credit from them.

[soccer333]

Well said. Speaks of my exact feelings..

[soccer333]

I have said before on this forum that Croatia is a great team. I also was cheering for them during the 98 World Cup. But I have to disagree with you on one thing. Croatia did not dominate Turkey. If you think so you either need to watch the game again while being unbiased or you simply don't understand this game.

[soccer333]

Well said. Same here..

[soccer333]

Better than Russia? You need to watch Russia's game against the Dutch today. I think you'll be changing that statement pretty fast..