Switzerland vs Turkey
in Basle.
Wednesday, 11th June at 20.45
The co-hosts are still searching for their first
Euro 2008 point as they entertain Turkey; knowing that they need a win to realisticaly
stay in the tournament.
It's another cool evening in Basle but the atmosphere is electric.
The heavens opened up with ten minutes gone; not yet enough to dampen
the spirits of the Swiss fans.
By the twentieth minute there was enough water on the pitch to start
affecting the roll of the ball. Gokhan Inler had already tried a long-rage shot, that
skidded just short of Volkan Demirel, but the Turkish goalkeeper managed to collect it at
the second attempt.
Volkan Demirel made two good diving saves in as minutes: once low to
his right, from Hakan Yakin; and once low to his left, from a Tranquillo Barnetta
free-kick.
Just before the half-hour, Nihat Kahveci whipped a free-kick into the
area from the right. Arda Turan, splashing through the puddles, headed onto the Swiss post
after Benaglio had pushed the ball into his path.
Hakan Yakin finally opened the scoring when a Philippe Senderos long
ball forward was cut square across the penalty area, after Eren Derdiyok had rounded
Demirel on the right, and the ball stopped nicely at the far-post for an easy tap-in.
Two minutes later Hakan Yakin had a chance to double the lead, in
almost the same position; then held his wet head in his hands at the miss of the
tournament.
Half-time - 1:0
It stopped raining at half-time and the ground staff have been hard at
work to try and help drain the pitch.
The drier conditions will be more favourable to Turkey, who have
trouble short-passing through the water.
Turkey made a double substitution at the re-start and the attacking
ploy finally payed off, when Semih Sentürk ran through two Swiss defenders to head Turkey
level, in the 57th minute.
Towards the close of play,the Swiss fans sensed Turkey getting the
better of them. A defeat for Switzerland would mean they go out, whereas a win would put
them second in the group.
Then Switzerland broke forward; four red shirts bearing down on the
Turkish goal. Despite the threat, Volkan Demirel kept Turkey in the game.
Four minutes added on. Köbi Kuhn gives one last gesture to his team,
although he looked a little jaded.
Then the horror for the home fans happened, as Turkey countered in
stoppage time with Arda Turan on the left. The Galatasaray player cut inside and shot
through three Swiss players on the edge of the area. The ball clipped Patrick Müller's
heel and looped over Benaglio.
With that, Switzerland were give an early Turkish bath; becoming the
first team to get knocked out of Euro 2008.
Final Score:
Switzerland 1 - Turkey 2
Goalscorers:
1:0 - Hakan Yakin (32)
1:1 - Semih Sentürk (57)
1:2 - Arda Turan (92)
Teams
Switzerland:
1 Diego Benaglio; 20 Patrick Müller, 3 Ludovic Magnin, 4 Philippe Senderos, 5 Stephan
Lichtsteiner; 16 Tranquillo Barnetta, 19 Valon Behrami, 15 Fernandes Gelson, 8 Gokhan
Inler; 10 Hakan Yakin, 12 Eren Derdiyok.
Turkey:
23 Volkan Demirel; 2 Servet Cetin, 15 Emre Asik, 3 Hakan Balta; 10 Gökdeniz Karadeniz, 7
Mehmet Aurelio, 11 Tümer Metin, 22 Hamit Altintopm, 14 Arda Turan; 8 Nihat Kahveci, 17
Tuncay Sanli.
Referee:
Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Substitutions:
46 Mins - 6 Mehmet Topal on for 11 Tümer Metin
46 Mins - 9 Semih Sentürk on for 10 Gökdeniz Karadeniz
66 Mins - 22 Johan Vonlanthen on for 16 Tranquillo Barnetta
76 Mins - 7 Ricardo Cabanas on for 15 Fernandes Gelson
85 Mins - 18 Colin Kazim-Richards on for 8 Nihat Kahveci
85 Mins - 14 Daniel Gygax on for 10 Hakan Yakin
 4 Yellow Cards:
31 Mins - Tuncay Sanli (Turkey)
41 Mins - Mehmet Aurelio (Turkey)
48 Mins - Hakan Balta (Turkey)
55 Mins - 12 Eren Derdiyok (Switzerland)
Czech Republic vs Portugal
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