Written by Angela Asante.

“There will be no miracle” said the coach of Turkey… and there has been NO miracle for his team!

Turkish fans might feel it’s hard to accept that their team has not made it to the final in Vienna.

Going into the game, the Reds were ravaged by injuries and suspension. Their team counted only 13 available players to face in-form Germany.

Most soccer analyst had predicted that Joachim Low’s side would “easily” pass the test and qualify to the ultimate stage.

But Germany was stunned when Turkey opened the scoring in the first half. They played with determination and dominated the game. However, almost out of nowhere, Germany found their way back as Schweinsteiger scored to provide his side a precious equalizer.

75 minutes had run down the clock and it was still 1 – 1. Turkey could have converted two or three shots into goals but keeper Jens Lehman was alert enough to make excellent saves.

Instead, it was the Germans who took the lead at the 79th minute when P. Lahm’s cross found Klose’s head who fired the ball past Rustu.

Turkey was desperate for another comeback.

And indeed, they had it: Sabri tapped the ball across the line from close range for the match to be all square. Germans fans could not believe it that point and suddenly, the red crowd came alive… but not for too long.

At the 90th minute, defender P. Lahm stepped in the penalty area and brilliantly scored the game’s fifth goal. 3 – 2 to Germany and the Turkish just couldn’t find another miraculous touch: an injury time free-kick was virtually their last chance of survival but the ball went well wide.

Certainly, the Germans did not deserve their victory. For Turkey, Lahm’s goal was questionable because the referee let the game continue though one of their players was injured on the ground.

Well, the Turkish have been brave throughout the tournament and their fans can certainly be proud of their heroes’ performance: these gentlemen have proved to the whole world what soccer is indeed about; but this time, luck wasn’t on their side.

Germany will face either Russia or Spain in Sunday’s final.

Angela Asante
Euro2008TV Writer

Written by Angela Asante

Does any team do it better than Turkey?

The fact is that the Turkish don’t let things happen, they make them happen. They’ve got luck on their side and the willingness of fighting until their very last breath.

“Croatia are going crazy” is what Nikko Kranjcar said before the match and it could have been it when Klasnic broke the dead-lock one minute before the end of proceedings.

But brave soldiers never give up and if they were strong enough to push the game into extra time, it wasn’t time for them to bow down their heads.

“Time has no meaning” and Semhi proved it when he equalized with a superb volley at the very last kick of the game.

This miraculous come back indeed left the Croatians completely stunned and perhaps this had a psychological effect on them: they missed 3 spot kicks out of 4; the last one was saved by the Turkish goal keeper who became the hero of the night.

So 1 – 1 (3 – 1) on penalties was the final score line which sees Turkey in the semis of the Euro 2008 Championship.

The Red army have won another battle.

They certainly had less support than the Croatian team whose fans turned out in a great number to storm the streets of Vienna, but their passion for soccer and willingness seems immeasurable.

The Turkish have accomplished yet another step of their mission. They beat co-host Switzerland in the last quarter of the game, came from behind to shock the Czechs and won a tough encounter against Croatia on Friday night.

Can Germany stop the brave warriors of Turkey from reaching the “top of the hill” which is the final?

Angela Asante
Euro2008TV Writer.

(read full article…)