Euro 2008: Croatia 1-1 (1-3) Turkey Advance on Penalties to Semi Finals (Full Match Report and Video)

This was the second quarter final of the tournament so far, with Croatia excelling in their group with three wins, including an impressive win over Germany. Turkey went in to this game after clinching the last eight spot with three very late goals in their last game against Czech Republic, meaning they came in to this game after finishing second in their group.

Croatia started well, playing some good football and keeping possession well. Turkey had a bit of possession, too, as well as a free kick that was expertly blocked by Nico Kovac. But it was just before the twenty minute mark when Croatia had a flurry of chances, with the best of which falling to Olic, who just needed to tap the ball in to the open goal, but the ball rebounded off him on to the crossbar and the ball came back out.

After that, there was no real action in the first half, although the game was relatively entertaining. Turkey had nearly two thirds of possession in the first period, as well as having more shots, but they didn’t utilize these statistics, and the game was goal less as they went in for the half time break.

The story was much the same in the second half, which Olic again missing crucial chances, and Turkey just about held on with expert saves, long clearances up the pitch and poor Croatian final touches. Because of this, the game went in to extra time.

This was by far the most exciting part of the game, and in the third period of the game, Turkey looked on top, playing brilliant football, and if they had been a bit more attacking it was fairly obvious that they would have scored, but the game went in to the fourth period goal less.

The second half of extra time belonged to Croatia, with some chances going astray before with ninety second left to play, a foolish error by the Turkish goal keeper meant that substitute Klasnic has an easy header, and Croatia thought they had won, but they hadn’t. A long ball forward from goal keeper Rustu caused some errors by the Croatian center backs, who let Senturk blast a shot in to the top corner from around eight yards, and the game went to penalties.

Croatia missed their first, third and fourth penalties with saves and two off target shots, with Turkey scoring all of their three penalties to go through to the semi finals to face Germany.

The game took around ninety minutes to warm up, but after that it got very exciting, although the best team lost, and Turkey shouldn’t really be where they are, but that’s not to take anything away from them, as they played brilliantly and ultimately scored more goals.

Final Score:
Croatia 1 – 1 Turkey
(Turkey win 3-1 on penalties)

Watch the GOALS:

Comments June 21st, 2008

Euro 2008: Croatia 1-0 Poland (Full Match Report and Video)

After Croatia were already almost guaranteed first place, they were just playing for a one hundred percent win record in this game. However the Polish needed a win and the other result between Germany and Austria to go their way to get through to the next round, but it was never going to be easy against the Croatians who had won their two previous games convincingly.

Croatia started well, putting the Polish defense under constant pressure, forcing save after save from Poland goal keeper Artur Boruc who in full truth had a truly excellent game, keeping everything that came his way in the first half out of his goal.

Poland never really created much of a threat in the first half, and Croatian goal keeper Vedran Runje seemed fairly bored, but still commanded his defense well when called upon.

In the second half Croatia really came alive, putting Boruc and his defense under relentless pressure, with the Polish manager Beenhakker going crazy on the touch line.It was inevitable when Croatia scored the first goal of the game.

It came on the fifty second minute, Klasnic (who has had two kidney transplants) calmly converted the ball in to the back of the net after Danijel Pranjic pulled the ball back from a surging run down the wing.

The Polish looked increasingly beaten as the game went on, and could do nothing to stop the Croatians maintaining their unbeaten run.

Overall a good performance by Croatia, who have put Poland out of the tournament for good. Tonight’s results mean that Croatia top the group with nine points, the first team to do so so far in the competition, Germany follow with six points and Poland and Austria are knocked out of the competition.

Final Score:
Croatia 1 – 0 Poland

Watch the GOAL:

Comments June 17th, 2008