Semi Final Preview
Germany vs. Turkey
A late winning goal against Switzerland was regarded as a fine piece of opportunism, while two goals in the last three minutes against the Czech Republic in the next game was considered to be remarkable.

Then came an equalizing goal with virtually the last kick of the ball in extra time against Croatia – after going a goal behind only seconds before – followed by a dramatic penalty shoot-out win.

Each performance has topped the one before both in terms of dramatic effect and achievement. Now facing the pre-tournament favorites Germany with a depleted squad, can Turkey do it one more time?

The bookies do not think so and are giving odds of around 7/1 that Turkey will be able to maintain their phenomenal run in Wednesday’s semifinal. It is certainly not the first time that Turkey have been cast as the underdogs at this tournament but they have also never gone into a game with such an under strength team.

Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik and first choice keeper Volkan Demirel will all be missing through suspension. Emre Belozoglu, defenders Servet Cetin and Emre Gungor, as well as Tumer Metin and striker Nihat Kahveci who are all either definitely out or are extremely doubtful because of injury. Defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio who missed the dramatic win against Croatia returns after serving a one-game suspension and constitutes the only bright spot.

Coach Fatih Terim should not have too much difficulty picking his starting lineup. His tactics should be pretty straightforward as well. When Turkey has tried to defend at Euro 2008 they have struggled to impress. However, when they have pushed forward and pressured the opposition they have looked to be a far more dangerous team.

So even though there may be a temptation to defend in numbers and to wait for the one or two opportunities that might come their way, Turkey’s best chance to get the result they need to make it to the final is to attack Germany. Such an aggressive plan may backfire but it offers a better chance of success than sitting back and trying to absorb 90 minutes (or 120 minutes) of German pressure.

Any plan that encourages Germany to play most of the game in Turkey’s half of the pitch will only lead to set piece opportunities and the Germans are just to big, to strong and to well organized not to take the chances that will come their way.

Germany’s number one objective will be to concentrate on this match and not to allow their minds to wonder to a possible Sunday meeting against Spain or Russia. Unlike his Turkish counterpart Germany coach Joachim Low will have to give some thought to his starting eleven.

After missing a game against Portugal with a rib injury midfielder Torsten Frings is likely to be declared fit for this game. (Frings missed the World Cup semifinal against Italy two years ago and his absence was noticeable.) Coach Joachim Low compensated for his absence against Portugal by changing formation and moving from a conventional 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1.

The change served a dual purpose. It provided extra cover to the back four and offered a solution to the second striker question. Mario Gomez came into this tournament as one of the potential bright young things but has suffered a terrible run of form so far.

By going with Klose as a lone striker, Low was able to capitalize on the attacking instincts of Michael Ballack. Ballack played between Podolski and Schweinsteiger and three players figured significantly in Germany’s three goals.


Credit Check
Is Philipp Lahm the most under appreciated player in the Germany squad?


Comment of the Day
“It is because Germany can break your heart as easily as they might snap a dried-out twig. They do it as a matter of course. Sometimes it seems almost the equivalent of taking a breath. Ask Argentina, the spell-binding masters of the last World Cup, we thought, until they ran into Germany, and felt their life-blood draining away.

The Germans started as a laughing stock and finished in third place, their coach Jürgen Klinsmann and his successor Joachim Löw installed as national football icons alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller and the late Fritz Walter because they had shown the most valued talent in the football of the Fatherland – they showed that however unpromising the circumstances, they could make extraordinary things happen.

This is the history and the here and now of the German game the Turks confront tonight. It is the football of pragmatism, yes, but also of steel. It is football which dwarfs that of all rivals except Brazil and Italy.” – James Lawton in The Independent.


Stat Fact
“Bastian Schweinsteiger has a goal, an assist, a yellow card and a red card to his name at Euro 2008. The only other player to have achieved this feat is Denmark's Klaus Berggreen in 1984.” – BBC.


Match Report
Germany 3-2 Turkey

I####oal is scored at Euro 2008 and the worldwide television audience does not see it did it really happen? Unfortunately with the score at 1-1 we were reminded of how much we rely upon and expect from modern technology. This time it failed and we essentially missed a fantastic last eleven minutes that brought three goals. And so for millions around the globe the semi final was an anti-climax.

It was an erratic performance from Germany against a Turkish team that was never outclassed and for long periods of the game Turkey was by far the better side.

Full back Philipp Lahm was to be at the epicenter of the action as the game reached a rousing climax. With eleven minutes to go a Lahm cross found Klose about twelve yards out. Recber opted to come for the ball but never got close and the header found an empty net. At that point Germany must have thought that they had finally broken Turkey’s spirit.

But back came Turkey and after Sabri had skinned Lahm out on the touchline his low cross was deflected past Lehmann by Semih Senturk – 85th minute. And so the prospect of another game going to extra time seemed very real.

However, it was Lahm that popped up one more time to decide the game with only seconds remaining and send Germany to the final on Sunday. As Podolski dropped deep Sabri was pulled out of position. Lahm was played in by Thomas Hitzlsperger and opted to go for the nearside and fooled Recber who had anticipated the opposite. 

If Germany had any doubt that they would have to battle for a place in the final it was put to rest during the first 45 minutes.  Turkey driven on by Hamit Altintop, Kazim and Ugar Boral in midfield showed more desire and initiative than the favorites Germany.

It took over 20 minutes for Turkey to take the lead but before that they had gone close when Kazim struck the crossbar with Lehmann beaten and had created some other good opportunities.

The goal was scrappy but deserved. Kazim was again at the center of it when his shot rebounded off the bottom to a waiting Ugar Boral. As Lehmann struggled to regain bearings the Turkish midfield players shot nutmegged the German keeper and trickled over the line.

But Germany’s response was quick. Podolski was set free down the left side and his cross was met first time by Schweinsteiger who clipped his shot wide of Recber and into the corner of the net. But even then Turkey still enjoyed most of the possession on were a constant irritant to the German defense and midfield.

Group B

Austria 0-1 Germany

At the 2006 World Cup Germany threw off the chains of decades of highly effective but mind-numbing play to become one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament. Today they reverted to old habits and produced an uninspiring but all the same, winning performance.

Apart from both coaches being sent to the stands the only memorable moment of the first forty-five minutes was a miss by Gomez of Kanuesque proportions. Klose fed him a pass that put him in front of an open goal and no more than four yards out.

Gomez contrived to sand wedge the ball up in the air and as it spun towards the goal an Austrian defender recovered and headed clear unchallenged. Surely the miss of the tournament.

It is no secret that Gomez is struggling badly but it is to the point that it is cruel and unusual punishment to keep him on the field. Lowe apparently likes a more physical forward up front with Klose and that has been one of the reasons to pull Podolski deeper into midfield.

However, the Podolski move has compounded the problem because the Bayern Munich player has fitted in nicely in midfield while also scoring goals. Sticking with Gomez in the next round would be a vote of confidence bordering on the foolhardy.

Fritz and Frings (sounds like a Vegas lounge act) both had nightmare games and were constantly battling to control passes and to find team mates. Any coordinated threat from Germany in the first half came with Lahm and Podolski linking down the left side. And it was through a surging run from Lahm that Germany took the lead just into the second half.

Ivanschitz sliced down the little full back as he threatened to break into the penalty and set up a free kick 30 yards out. The ball was touched to Ballack who thumped a shot passed Macho and was still rising as it hit the back of the Austrian net. It was the one moment of pure class throughout the entire ninety minutes.

As the game went on a lack of telling passes in the last third of the field allowed both defences to remain comfortably in control through weight of numbers. Although Austria continued to push forward they just did not the conviction or skill to both manufacture and take a chance that might have changed the flow of the game. Germany had a number of chances on the counter but they often looked dazed and confused and nothing came of the numerous opportunities.

Germany win ugly and move on: Austria finishes above Poland but go out albeit having exceeded the low expectations.

Croatia 1-0 Poland

Ivan Klasnic scored what must surely be the most personally emotional goal to maintain Croatia’s 100% record. Klasnic who underwent kidney transplants in the last two years and still fought his way back into the national team scored the only goal. Given that he has also been released by his club Werder Bremen in Germany the goal will not have gone unnoticed by teams looking for a proven striker.

Portugal vs. Germany on Thursday; Croatia vs. Turkey on Friday.

Comment of the Day
“The Austro-Swiss flop is the first in what may be a sequence of poor performances by host nations in European and world tournaments. World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa have slipped down the rankings in African football over the past few years and suffered another embarrassing defeat, away to Sierra Leone, in an African Nations Cup qualifier yesterday.

Even if they get a helpful draw in two years' time they may struggle to advance. In 2012, the European championship will be jointly staged by Ukraine, who have qualified for only one major tournament since gaining independence, and Poland who have disappointed at Euro 2008 just as they did at the last two World Cups.” – When Saturday Comes.


Prediction Update
We have eleven posters with a 100% record (8 points from a possible 8) at the completion of Group A.

Matthew 21110, Anti-Madridista, Sleeper000, Sangria, Soundersfan, SMuAnNuNy, Genuisatwork, TBoone, Willisman, realmadrista123, and Milanfan21 all nailed the exact finishing positions.

However, we already know that no one will have a 100% record once group play is complete.

But given that the winners of Group B, C and D are already decided I can tell you that we have three posters who got all four group winners spot on. LHJS, Soundersfan and frenchies.

Looks as if Soundersfan is the one to beat. I’ll try to update at the conclusion of each group.


Tiebreaker
In Canada TSN and Rogers Sportsnet are sharing the coverage of Euro 2008. It is just as well that they haven't had to pay each viewer a dollar every time they have gotten the tiebreaker rule wrong over the last five days.

The latest faux pas just before the start of Group A play yesterday when we were informed (paraphrased) that if the Czechs won big and Portugal lost big then the Czechs could finish top of Group A on goal difference.


CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying
Yesterday’s later games brought another couple of surprise results. Trinidad and Tobago lost 2-1 at home to Bermuda while Haiti was held scoreless at home by Netherlands Antilles. The ####mp;T score potentially impacts the next round of games for the USA as the qualification format moves to three groups of four.

Canada opposition in the next stage is a mere formality. Honduras has already qualified while Mexico has a 2-0 lead to take home against Belize. Jamaica won 7-0 against the Bahamas and will surely move on. After this weekend’s results the idea that the next stage of qualifying might be prove to the biggest hurdle for Canada to clear has only been reinforced.

The results and the format to the next stage can be found by clicking on the link.

You certainly know these two have some history - definetly a derby atmosphere.

Poland has a jump about their game that we didn't see when they played Ecuador.

Germany has created three clear cut chances and they may regret these misses if Poland can get their nose if front.

Klose should have put away two relatively easy chances while Podolski should have broken his WC duck.

All these chances have been created from the German left and when - or if - they score it looks like it will come from Lahm and Schweinsteiger on that side.