Denmark, Greece, Turkey. It's like the Enigma Code, the Da Vinci Code or simply Sod's Law. Turkey progressed to within 90 minutes of the European Championship final this evening and did so with all the style of two recent European Champions.
Lucky to be level at half time, Turkey did little in the second half to suggest they would go the distance but keeper Rustu kept the Croats at bay and Turkey looked much more confident during extra time. Penalties decided matters and Modric, Rakitic and Petric all failed to score to hand the Turks an easy penalty win. I'm sorry to see Croatia go out but I won't miss Slaven Billic's ear-ring (like him, I'm getting old).
Turkey will now face Germany in the semis but will do so without several first choice players as bookings took their toll this evening. This will be a massive game in Germany, as they have a large Turkish population, and you simply cannot rule the Turks out come what may. As I started this post, they are beginning to look uncannily like Denmark and Greece and anything is possible.
Let's hope tomorrows match provides better football if not drama. It's hard to look beyond the, so-far impressive Dutch, and I hope they do it for the sake of the tournament. However, the Russsians are no slouches and will be confident they can follow the Turks as party-poopers.
Dave,
ReplyDeleteI agree about Greece, but the previous winners, in 2000, were France, and there can be little doubt that they were a great team.
Strangly I'm enjoying the football much more without the stress of worrying about England's chances. The hype we normally see in the national press normally ensures that as soon as we go out I lose interest. Two more cracking quarter-finals should provide us with at least two teams in the Semis that justify winning it.
Let's hope so.
KHA - France only spoilt the sequence! It would be good to see the Dutch get through, just a shame that they or the Italians/Spanish will go out on the semi's. I'm guessing Germany v Holland if the Dutch can overcome the Russians tonight.
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