Germany/Turkey Euro 2008 Semifinal Live Blog

The road to Basel for each side:

Germany

It was a rather unconvincing trip for them in the group stage. They dominated Poland 2-0 on Lukas Podolski goals, but were stunned by the Croatia team that hadn't beaten them in 10 years 2-1, and were in danger of elimination entering their final game against minnows Austria.

A draw against Austria meant they were through, but a loss and they were out, and Austria would pull off one of the biggest stunners and advance to the quarterfinals. Michael Ballack provided one of the goals of the tournament with his stunning free kick proved to be the only goal of what was otherwise a dull match, nonetheless, Germany were through, but barely.

Before a ball was even kicked the Germans were considered to be the top favorite to win it all, and now they were a slight underdog against Portugal in the knockout stage. Their coach Joachim Low was banned from the touchline for a game because of bickering with the Austrian coach, thus watching from press level.

Germany was able to get off to a rocket start, scoring 2 goals in the first 30 minutes to stun the Portuguese, but Nuno Gomes scored on a rebound from a Ronaldo shot to pull within 2-1 at halftime.

The fatal blow to Portugal was their inability to defend set plays with their poor marking, and Michael Ballack's header in the 60th minute proved to be decisive, as Helder Postiga's goal in the 88th was not enough for Portugal, they were out, Germany through with a pulsating 3-2 win.

Turkey

(this excerpt came from my blog)

Turkey are definitely the "Cinderellas" of Euro 2008. Guess how many minutes they've lead in this tournament? A total of 4 minutes in 4 games, one of them they lost 2-0. Yet, they are in the semi-finals of the European Championships for the first time ever.

They needed to beat the co-hosts Switzerland to stay alive in the group stage, and after falling 1-0 at the half, they got an equalizer in the 57th minute on a header by Semih Senturk. Just when they were destined for a draw, Arda Turan's deflected shot hit the back of the net, and in stoppage time, Switzerland were out, and Turkey's final match against the Czech Republic would still have meaning.

Their 2nd comeback was considered one of the greatest in Euro history. The winner of Czech Republic/Turkey would advance to the quarterfinals, and a draw in the match would've meant penalties because all of the tiebreakers had run out. Jan Koller headed the ball home in what would be his final goal in international competition, and Jaroslav Plasil made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute. Looks like it's game over right? Arda Turan scores in the 75th minute and it looks like Turkey have a chance at penalties. They were pressuring and pressuring and Petr Cech, considered the best goalkeeper in the world, in the rain, made the fatal mistake of failing to catch a simple cross, and Nihat took advantage of an empty net, 2-2 in the 87th minute.

Penalties seemed to be the destiny for these two sides, which was a shame, because it was a classic match. Nihat though was onside in the 89th minute, a wonderful pass found his feet, and he lofted it past Cech for the winner, 3-2, and Turkey pull off a miracle. However, Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was sent off for stupidly shoving Koller in the back near the end of the game. He will not play again until the final should they advance.

Next came Croatia, the team that won all of their group games, including a stunning upset of Germany. The game had to go to extra time after a stale 90 minutes, and with 3 minutes to go, there was no sign that there would be a goal in this game. In the 119th minute, the Turkish goalkeeper, Rustu, made a poor decision by following the ball near the touchline (his near post), he could not get to it, and the 2nd cross found Ivan Klasnic for the winner....so they thought.

Just 1 minute (minimum) of stoppage time, Rustu needed to kick the ball as far as possible and hope for a miracle from his teammates. It would be the last kick of the game, and another Turkish miracle.

http://youtu...=LfTWxh4jMCo

Turkey won 3-1 on penalties, stunning the Croatia players, fans, and a whole nation. With 8 players out with either yellow card accumulation or injury (including Nihat), they are still heavy underdogs, but with the way they are playing, and their magical run, don't be surprised if they pull off one more shocker in their march to Vienna for the final.

Yeah I shall be viewing this game

Podolski to score a hat trick Im calling it

Adrian Healey and Andy Gray will be your commentators.

And Julie Foudy is already irritating me so I'll come back when the anthems are on.

Before that happens though......

Dear Julie Foudy,

Semih Senturk did not score the winning goal, that tied the game at 1-1, which forced penalties!

Go home.

--SSR

The national anthems begin in front of a raucous crowd in Basel, each ticket has a "Unite against Racism" tag on it.

Germany and Turkey have had theirs played and we will be set to kickoff in a minute.

Michael Ballack and Rustu make their statements in their respective languages. Franz Beckenbauer is in attendance, the lineup from Germany's previous game remains the same as well as the formation (4-2-3-1)

Massimo Bussaca is your referee tonight.

4 changes are made for Turkey, Arda Turan, Tuncay are the notables who are not here. It's a 5-4-1 with Semih Senturk as the lone forward.

Kickoff is here!

Germany attacking to the right on the television screen, Turkey to the left.

A hesitant start as Hakan Balta sends it back to the keeper.

Mehmet Aurelio back after suspension for Turkey is going to have to step it up. Turkey has conceded the first goal in every game they have played in.

Podolski kept the ball in well and Germany are under heavy pressure and are stuck in the midfield.

Defenses on top 4:15 into this match.

There is space of Ugur Boral had some space to cross and Schweinsteiger clears it away.

Ballack was tackled by Aurelio, Turkey on the attack and KAZIM KAZIM WITH A SHOT! A little too ambitious, saved by Lehmann with an easy catch, first chance of the game.

Bad giveaway and Hamit Altintop IS IN ON GOAL!! GOOD SAVE LEHMANN!!! Nearly disaster by Germany, who gave the ball away in their own penalty area, looks like it was Mertesacker that's the guilty party.

So surprisingly after 8 minutes, Turkey have had the better start to this match.

Germany continue to play around in the midfield, Turkey with the majority of possession.

Senturk is in the area for Kazim to cross but couldn't hold onto the ball long enough, now here is Urga Boral with blazing speed but Mertesacker gets it away.

Aurelio, Gokhan Zan in the midfield.

Podolski now, 3 goals for him in this tournament, another giveaway by Germany.

KAZIM KAZIM!!!!!! OFF THE WOODWORK!!!! WHAT A HIT!!!!! WHAT A HIT!!!!! SEMIH SENTURK SENT IT IN AND IT RATTLES THE BAR!!!! Senturk's 2nd effort at the near post was wide but it's a corner.

Altintop's cross meets Schweinsteiger, another corner kick, which is headed away. Germany are really on the defensive and it looks like Ballack is down.

"The Turks don't care if this is the most boring game of the tournament..." Considering the lack of Italians on the field, they'll have their work cut out for them.

Wow what a scramble in the box for Germany, Ballack's header was cleared away and the ball was sent back and cleared for a corner.

Rustu punches the ball away calmly.

Yes OFD, I sound like a commentator, and I'm better than Joe Buck and so are you.:)

20 minutes gone, no score, impressive from Turkey, the aggressor, they've had the better chances and are forcing Germany to play with the ball in the midfield.

Time for the disco goal music!

DAMNIT

GOAL FOR TURKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! URGA BORAL SCORES ON THE REBOUND AFTER THE FIRST SHOT HIT THE WOODWORK!!! TURKEY HAVE THE LEAD!!!!!!

Looks like the first shot was mishit by Kazim and the rebound goes in. 1-0 Turkey.

Turkey bloooooowwwss

So what do you eat on Thanksgiving, Fly?

Attababy back in the saddle

It's been a Turkish delight so far and they are continuing this assault and Semih Senturk turns and fires but it is deflected for a corner.

Aurelio's header needed a touch by Senturk to make it 2-0, the ball just goes behind him. Germany attacking now with Podolski, and SCHWEINSTEIGER!!!!!!!! IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN!!! PODOLSKI AND SCHWEINSTEIGER COMBINE ON ANOTHER BRILLIANT GOAL!!! 1-1!

That goal woke the Germans up.

The lead lasts just 5 minutes, which means Turkey has led for a grand total of 9 minutes in this tournament.

Schweinsteiger taken down and the ref has given a free kick. Well Hitzlsberger's free kick was a waste.

So a pulsating 29 minutes, and now Sabri for Senturk! Easy save for Lehmann.

Here's Germany, Klose's ball in is away for a corner kick. I've fully enjoyed this match.

Lousy corner though, Germany gets it back but loses it to Boral.

Free kick given to Turkey, Altintop takes it!!! Oh he went for goal and Lehmann ends up making a save! Corner kick!

And Kazim's header is deflected, corner again. What a game. Boral with a poor shot on goal that is scooped up Lehmann.

Oh here is Podolski on a breakaway after a mistake and HE GOES FOR IT!! Disappointing....it goes high of the bar for a goal kick. Turkey's defense is not settled.

Im proud of myself. I just watched a full half of soccer without changing the channel.

That could be a booking for a high boot from Lahm. Nope, but it's a free kick from a dangerous area to cross, set pieces have been a problem.

Boral will take it for Turkey, and the goalscorer sends it in, he goes for goal and Lehmann saves it by fisting it away! The rebound on the volley was scuffed and Germany survive the danger.

I don't know about you, but I think Lehmann is very uncomfortable out there, some hesitant saving and some scrambles in the penalty area.

Looks like Simon Rolfes is the German player down.

So after 40 minutes, it's 1-1, Ayhan Akman was also down as Kazim goes for goal, blocked, and now Podolski loses it no the counterattack, Altintop's first touch let him down before that on that pass, now it's SABRI SANOGLU!!! Just over the bar!

This has been a classic match, 1-1 it remains when Turkey could be 3-1 up. Germany, despite the equalizer, have been unable to consistently get an attack going.

Turkey coming again, but Lahm gets it away, Podolski has it tackled away by Gokhan Zan brilliantly. Altintop goes for goal and em....umm....no.

Torsten Frings may end up coming in for Rolfes because of the injury, he will come in, but in the 2nd half in all likelihood.

Whoa now, Rolfes is back in! And now a bad tackle by Lahm and again it could've been a booking. Altintop was going for goal but it was not that good from that long distance and it's a throw for Germany off of the deflection.

1 minute of stoppage time given. And it is halftime!

A depleted Turkish side end up level with Germany, which is rather unlucky because they dominated most of the game with their attacking play, frazzling that German defense and of course Jens Lehmann. The first goal came from Ugar Boral in the 21st minute on a rebound effort after Kazim Kazim hit the bar for a 2nd time, but Germany came storming back and Podolski to Schweinsteiger for the 2nd game in a row means at halftime in Basel it is:

Turkey 1 Germany 1

A gripping match indeed, plenty of chances, goals from each side, the woodwork has been rattled, see you in the 2nd half.

I'm getting sick of these announcers. They're really getting their knees dirty for the Turks. "Take the goal away and what has impressed you about the Germans' performance?" Absolutely ridiculous. I know everyone loves an underdog, and two Britons certainly won't be rooting for Deutschland against anyone, but enough is enough. Time to turn on SAP.

Frings is in for Rolfes as the 2nd half begins!

Ooh Klose made a good run but Aurelio gets it away in time, the fast pace continues.

Podolski....but the cross was wayward, goal kick. Good run, nothing of it.

Where has Michael Ballack been in this game? Altintop gets yanked down by Lahm and somehow the ref doesn't give a yellow card.

Free kick for Turkey, easy for Lehmann.

I'm off to eat lunch, back in 10.

That looked like a penalty to me.

I am really enjoying the prolonged look at the Fan Zone, ESPN. Thanks for the crappy coverage

Wow, a power cut meant everyone in the world missed out on 6 minutes of action. I bet the people in the German pubs were not happy.

This is what you get for not sending your commentators to the stadium ESPN, lightning hit, power affects the TV feed, no goals scored since I left.

Corner kick for Turkey, 68 minutes gone, 22 minutes plus stoppage time away from extra time unless a goal is scored.

Turkey is starting to get their confidence back after being dominated in the first 20 minutes of the half. Still an electric atmosphere (zing!) in Basel.

Kazim Kazim makes a good run, but goes down easily and loses the ball, I think he's looking for a penalty......oh wait, Lahm got a full hand of jersey, he may be right.

I think Derek called Andy "Tommy" for a moment there.:)

19 minutes to go, still 1-1.

Altintop is about to run for 9 Kms, or 1 per 10 minutes.

Boral makes a nice run, cuts inside and goes for goal! Weaker foot shot and Lehmann collects with ease, and now HITZLSBERGER!!!! What a shot, it just goes wide for a goal kick.

Now 74 minutes gone, will there be a national hero for Turkey? Or will Germany go back to the final for the first time since 1996.

So after a bright start to the 2nd half by Germany, they have faded of late, but then again, so have Turkey.

Here we go again...

And boom goes the dynamite. Another lightning strike im guessing

Crap, more technical difficulties, and the cheap ass ESPN not sending their guys to the stadium could've meant audio commentary.

Oh well, 75 minutes in and I'll be looking at the BBC Sport website on updates.

Thinking about it, Germany has got to be a crazy place today. Consider that over 2.7 million Turks live in Germany too.

GERMANY HAVE SCORED!!!!!!! MIROSLAV KLOSE!!!!!!

TURKEY ARE SURELY OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT NOW!!!! Don't tell me they are coming back again!

Stupid weather, a whole world doesn't even know this happened.

i feel so cheated.

Rustu apparently made a poor error, a giveaway, and Klose put it away.

So Rawb is overjoyed as Germany are 10 minutes away from the final.

To be honest, I really didn't think the winner of this match would win the final anyway, it's Russia or Spain for the title. I refuse to be impressed with Germany's shocking inconsistencies, and while they will likely make the final......Spain or Russia will beat them up with their speed.

TURKEY SCORES NOW!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never say Turkey's done.

I think Germany is winning

Absolute cracker of a match, and it's been affected by Al Gore's enemy, climate change......er....weather.

ah shit i missed that part

agh Lahm

It's Semih Senturk again!! It's gone wide........

1 minute to go plus stoppage time. What a game. LAHM TO WIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow what a game is that 3 goals in less than 15 mins?

Fuckin right!!

and the feed goes out again?

At least they got that goal before losing the feed again

Crap, we've lost the picture again.......

What a tourney

I've never enjoyed soccer as much as I have throughout this tourney

IT IS OVER!!!!!!! GERMANY HAVE WON IT!!!!!!

Turkey are done, the sentimental favorites are out, they did not play their best, their defense got cut apart, and while the run was great, their defense was poor and it's all over for them. I really feel sorry for them, but isn't it fitting they get the heartbreak this time?

Germany are living on the edge, their defense also looked poor, but the 2nd half was theirs for the taking......they will not win the final BigPPup, Spain and Russia are better than they are.

I'm at a loss for words, this has got to be one of the best tournaments in Europe in a long time.

Final in Basel

Germany 3 Turkey 2

So for me SSR, goodbye.

As annoying as the outages were, the fact that they weren't anyone's fault sort of made them add to the excitement of watching this game. Absolutely fabelhaft. Klose redeems himself of a tournament of obscurity, Lahm redeems himself of being bitched on defense. The Turks put up a hell of a fight, much credit to them. But even more credit to DEUTSCHLAND!!!!!!

Exciting game in a great tournament. Congrats to Germany for reaching the final. On to what might be an even more exciting game in Spain and Russia.

The big problem with Germany of course is that piece of garbage called Jens Lehmann.....how he is the #1 for Germany is beyond me.

Russia will beat the Spaniards and will beat Germany in a thriller.