Croatia 1 Turkey 1 A.E.T Turkey Win 3-1 on Penalties
Turkey will meet Germany in the first semi-final on Wednesday when they produced a stunning equaliser & they were the better side at the penalty shoot out. Croatia thought they had won the game when they scored right at the end of extra time but Turkey now known as the team that never dies did just that. The game itself was awful & i couldn’t believe Croatia was the same team i had bin watching so far but it was either poor play by Croatia or Turkey got it tactically right either way i nearly fell asleep but here goes..
The match started with lots of action by both teams Modric had a shot after only the third minute but it was deflected wide by one of his own players two minuted later it was Turkeys turn when Nihat set up Hamit Altintop but he could only fire wide. Then Srna got into the box but his shot was deflected wide nothing came of the corner then Tuncay had a chance for Turkey but his poor shot was straight at the keeper Pletikosa. It went quite after then but then ten minuted later Croatia had the best chance of the match & should have taken the lead Modric broke into the box put in a perfect cross & there was Olic from four yards out to tap in but somehow could only smash it against the crossbar & over how did he manage that!!!.
Modric again was involved a few minuted later when he made a nice pass to Pranjic who ran into the box but his pass went behind everyone who was waiting in the penalty area. Turkey were hanging back a bit but Hamit did break clear but his pass couldn’t find Nihat so the play was broken up. Then Tuncay had the football & broke into the box but he was kind of baulked by Simic & there where calls for a penalty but the ref waved it away then we had the best shot of the night when Topal collected the football in midfield & let rip a almighty shot from all of 35 yards & saw his shot curl just wide of the post which had the Croatia keeper Pletikosa beaten then rest of the half not much happened & they went in nil nil at the break.
Portugal 2 Germany 3
Germany scored three goals to get there place in Euro2008 semi finals against a Portugal team who had a lot of the play but couldn’t score the goals they needed but two really basic defensive errors you wouldn’t see in the premiership or other leagues cost them dear. Maybe the timing of the Chelsea announcement ruined there chance as after that they hadn’t really played very well. Germany though you just cant write them off & who ever they play in the semi final it will be interesting.
Portugal started the game very well with Simao who set up Bosingwa down the right crossed into the box & Gomez couldn’t get there in time to connect properly then Deco laid off Simao who shot straight at Lehmann. The Germans got into the game after 17 minutes when Ballack headed over a corner but everyone was watching Ronaldo & he got his chance a minute later when he ran into the box but from a fantastic challenge from Friedrich he mite of scored Portugal had another fantastic chance straight away when the dangerous Bosingwa crossing into the box but Moutinho could only knee the ball over. Then came the best flowing move Germany had done all tournament.
Ballack controlled the ball passed to Podolski who fired it into the box & the in running Schweinsteiger to slot the ball at pace into the net. Germany were now on top & within 5 minutes they had scored again Schweinsteiger floated in a free kick & the Portugal defence tried to play off side but Klose was on side & had an easy header into the net to put them two nil up. Portugal had a football match on & needed to come from behind to win & some nice play gave them a chance it was Deco who passed to Ronaldo who did a neat return flick to Deco who put in a cross but Gomez missed.
But Portugal did get on the score sheet just before the break Ronaldo was involved again when he got through Germany’s defence but his shot was saved by Lehmann when it came back out & Gomez collected the football turned & shot ts the goal which went in from the outstretched Metzelder so the half ended at two one.
Greece 1 Spain 2
Spain shows it didn’t matter who played when they made it three wins out of three when they beat Greece to keep up there momentum for when they play Italy in the quarter finals on Saturday like look a team who could win the tournament. For the defending champions Greece all they could do is score there first goal but didn’t looked the team they were four years ago that lifted the trophy.
The football match started as you would have expected as Spain had already qualified & Greece were already going home. So with this dead rubber of a game not much happened in the first half. The most noticeable was Xabi Alonso had two long range shots that were very close but wide. Karagounis made Euro2008 history when he received his sixth yellow card of the championships which is a record. But it was Greece who took the lead it was Karagounis who floated in the free kick & there was Charisteas to put in a powerful heard to score Greece first goal.
Spain thought they should have equalised just before the break when Iniesta was bundled over in the box by Karaguonis but the English ref Webb waved it away. The Spanish player went mad & Karagounis took all the flack when he fell to the ground & had the football kick straight at his head that was the end of the half .
Russia 2 Sweden 0
Russia paved there way in the quarter final & set up a fantastic football match with Holland with this more than easy win over Sweden. This bring Guss Hiddink against his native country & what will be a interesting match. Sweden on the other hand were very poor couldn’t handle Russia at all & they don’t know where they go from here but as a ageing team they don’t look like a team that could improve in the future or have any starts in the waiting.
Russia came out knowing they had to win this football match but the way they played you could see only one winner. Sweden started well & had most of the play for the first 10 minutes but after then they didn’t look like any force at all. Arshavin back after a two game suspension had the first chance when he was set up by Pavlyuchenko but he couldn’t get the final touch on the cross then he had a cross that was curling & dipping towards the goal & had Isaksson back pedaling to make the save. Russia had Sweden on the rack & when Zhirkov could only fire a shot wide they took a deserved lead & all the pressure paid of.
It was Arshavin again who showed his skill & got the ball to Zyryanov who in turn put a neat pass to Ayunkov who crossed into the box to set up Pavlyuchenko who caught it right to place the shot past a diving Isaksson & into the net & probably the best team move of Euro2008 so far. Sweden hadn’t make much attempt to do anything but Larsson nearly got them back in it with a looping header the hit the corner of the cross bar & over. but Russia showed they can turn it on when ever when Pavlyuchenko took a powerful shot only for it to beat Isaksson but hit the post & out.
Sweden tried to up it at the end of the half when they had two good chances to equalise Mikael Nilsson got through after a deflection but shot at Akinfeev. The Ljugnberg was set up into the penalty area but brought out a good save from Akinfeev to keep the score at one nil at the half..
Holland 2 Romania 0
Holland progressed to the quarter finals of Euro2008 when they beat Romania & maintain there 100% record. They had made nine changes for this match but were still to strong for a Romania side that all they had to do was win to get to the quarter finals but really never threatened Holland & looked like a team already thinking of going home than trying to get to the next phase the match was quite strange as i was thinking Holland were going to get tested but they never came.
The game started with both teams being very tentative & really didn’t produce much to start with as Romania knew they had to win the football match where Holland with there changes wanted to impress the manager. Romania did have two good chances with there top striker Mutu the first was the football was feed to him in the six yard box & he managed to twist & turn he was into a shooting position but saw his shot get deflected wide but the foot of Bouma. Then he had a better chance when he ran with the football & unleashed a 25 yard shot that Stekelenburg was scrambling to but it flew wide but only just.
They also had another chance just before half time when Codrea could only fire his shot over the cross bar from 10 yards after rat had played him in. But in truth they should have gone in at half down one nil down as Holland wasted a good chance it was De Zeeuw who created it when he put through Huntelaar who then passed to Robben but he could only place his shot past Lobont’s right hand post. Romania should really be trying harder than this they must have know they needed to win but they lacked the urgency & the driving force to take Holland on.
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