Euro 2008 is, in the minds of many, one of the greatest European Championships of the last 30 years.
With crazy last-minute winners, two unlikely semi-finalists and the world’s first exposure to the Tiki-Taka monster that is the Spanish national team, it was a tournament to remember.
For all the unforgettable moments such as the Micheal Ballack thunderbolt that secured German qualification to the next round. Or the Russian commentaries overjoyed reaction to Arshavin knocking the Dutch out in extra time. Or even the Torres toe-poke that gave Spain only their second-ever major tournament.
One match reigns supreme as a game that will forever go down in history as an absolute classic. A game that helped win the hearts of millions of football fans across Europe.
The final Group A game between the Czech Republic and Turkey.
Neck and Neck
Going into the game, all eyes were on Turkey. The Czech Republic were probably just about favourites, but after a 93rd minute winner from Arda Turan in the previous game against Switzerland it would be quite a story were Turkey to get something here and progress.
Both sides were level on points, and both sides had scored the same goals, and conceded the same goals.,
They were as neck and neck as possible, completely even.
In the event of a draw between the sides, there would be no way to separate the two sides, which created the prospect of a penalty shootout between the two to decide who progresses.
“
- Number of points obtained in the matches among the teams in question
- Goal difference in the matches among the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal on points)
- Number of goals scored in the matches among the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal on points)
- goal difference in all the group matches
- Number of goals scored in all the group matches
- coefficient from the qualifying competitions for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2006/08 UEFA European Football Championship (points obtained divided by the number of matches played)
- Fair play conduct of the teams (final tournament)
- Drawing of lots
However, these criteria would not apply if two teams tied on points and goals scored played against each other in their final group match and no other team in the group finishes with the same points; in that case, the tie would be broken by a penalty shootout”
With both sides even, and no one else on the same points, a penalty shootout was a very real possibility in what would be a first in European Championship Group stages.
The Czechs had proven a worthy side in their previous two games. A 1-0 win over Switzerland made for a perfect start before a 3-1 loss to Portugal brought them back down to Earth.
But in truth, Portugal’s 3rd had only come in the 91st minute as the Czech Republic pushed for an equaliser.
They’d been much faster starters than Turkey going into the game. The Turks on the other hand had been quite the opposite, scoring both of their goals so far in the second half.
With anticipation high for this deciding fixture, a fixture not many would have expected to be this excited for before the tournament, the Stade de Geneva was at full capacity.
A Game of Twists and Turns
As expected, the Czech side started well, creating the best chances in the opening 20 minutes.
A speculative effort that went wide from Middlesbrough forward Tuncay Sanli proved the best moment for Turkey in the first half.
The Czechs rained shots down upon the Turkish goal, a breakthrough seeming inevitable.
When Juventus full-back Zdeněk Grygera found space on the wing, a whipped ball was imminent. With 6 ft 6 Jan Koller lurking in the box, it was a haunting sight for Turkish fans.
As the ball curved into the path of the man mountain up front, it looked to be just behind his head.
But, this didn’t matter to Koller. Whipping his neck round and meeting the ball perfectly as he flicked his head, connecting with the ball and sending a bullet header at Demiral in the Turkish net.
It was unsaveable. Koller produced one of the better headers you’ll ever see, and Turkey were left needing another comeback.
Koller could have had another before half-time, another long ball into the box saw another awkward header powerfully met by the giant. It rose just over, as Koller was proving too much to handle.
As the teams came in for Half-time, it was clear Turkey needed to get their heads together and find a way to get a grip on the game.
Second-Half Reset
Come the second half Turkey showed signs of bouncing back.
Turkey threatened the Czech’s goal multiple times in the opening 10 minutes, as Nihat came close to getting on the end of multiple crosses that would have been certain goals.
Turkey had the momentum, but just as things were looking up, the Czech Republic dealt a hammer blow.
A quick break saw Libor Sionko afforded plenty of time and space to whip another deadly ball in, the side looking deadly from out wide.
Turkish fans would have felt a pang of relief as the ball sailed beyond Jan Koller. However, behind the Czech giant, Left-winger Jaroslav Plasil was charging into the box like a locomotive.
Free of his marker, Plasil improvised well as the ball dropped onto his left foot. Cooly finishing, placing the ball into the bottom left corner. It was 2-0. Turkish hearts sank as it all seemed to have gone wrong.
They had it all to do to keep their hopes of progression alive, but there was some solace for Turkey fans to take, with the side having a penchant for late goals.
Group-Stage Penalties?
Against the Swiss, Arda Turan had scored a 93rd-minute winner, giving Turkey a chance at qualification. The match could still have twists in it yet.
Turkey were not going out without a fight, and when the hero versus Switzerland, Arda Turan turned the ball in from the edge of the box, with 15 minutes to play. Optimism quickly filtered back into the Turkish fans.
The Czechs had a strong defence, and with Chelsea legend Petr Cech in goal, there was little cause for concern regarding goalkeeping howlers. Right…?
As a hopeful cross was floated into the box, with 87 minutes played, Cech looked set to claim the ball. Rushing out to meet it, the man with 202 clean sheets in his career spilt it straight to striker Nihat, who quite frankly couldn’t believe his luck.
With a wide-open goal, Nihat rolled the ball into the net, celebrating almost before he even shot.
At this point, both teams were level on points, goal difference, goals scored, goals against and head-to-head record.
Penalties were certainly an exciting prospect, just a few minutes ago every Turkey supporter would have done anything for a draw, even if it meant the emotional hell that was penalties.
The Turkish side had other plans though. It was too early for the roulette wheel of penalties. Group stages are meant to be logical. Most points or failing that most goals, and you’re through.
There were just minutes left, and Turkey were not once to sit and rest on their laurels in the last couple of minutes of a game, even if they had just equalised.
The Ol’ One-Two
The Czech side must have felt the same as they looked to push on, but a terrible, uneven defensive line gave Turkey an easy path through their defence.
Two quick passes and Nihat was through, onside, 20 metres out but with so much to do.
The pass was just behind him. The striker had to turn around and control the ball, before swivelling back towards the Czech goal. He’d lost all momentum, meaning there was no chance to bring the ball closer.
Understanding this, Nihat pushed the ball out from his feet, buying him just a couple more yards, before unleashing one of the finishes of the tournament.
A sweet, rasping, finessed shot that sailed up and around Petr Cech, pinging off the underside of the bar as it hit the back of the net.
How much of a difference two minutes can make ay?
From elimination to Group Stage penalties to Quarter-final qualification, a minute between each outcome.
Somehow, there was still a final moment of drama.
A Moment of Madness
After a desperate long ball towards Jan Koller, Turkish keeper Volkan Demiral completely lost the plot.
Whether he felt Koller had been too physical as he challenged the keeper in the air I’m not sure of. After a brief altercation, the keeper pushed Koller over leaving the ref with no choice but to send the keeper off in the last minute.
With just a minute to play and no subs left, Tuncay Sanli went between the sticks as Turkey managed to hold on without the midfielder seeing any action.
Turkey would make it to the Semi-Final, where a 90th-minute Phillip Lahm winner saw Germany dramatically knock them out.
Still, Turkey had won the hearts of all the neutrals with an underdog story featuring 3 last-minute winning goals.
