Germany vs Turkey
in Basle.
Wednesday, 25th June at 20.45
The first semi-final is the last game to be played
in Switzerland, then it's all move to Vienna. Who will be travelling with us: Germany or
Turkey?
The two captains spoke to the crowd with a message to 'Unite Against
Racism'.
Turkey put the early pressure on Germany, with Kazim-Richards coming
in from the right and even trying a shot. A mistake in the German defence then forced Jens
Lehmann to come off his line to clear.
Then in the 13th minute, with Germany looking too relaxed at the back,
Turkey pushed forward and Kazim-Richards saw his shot cannon off the bar.
Germany's first real attack came in the 17th minute, with Michael
Ballack coming close to getting the ball where he wanted it.
Turkey finally took the lead in the 22nd minute; as Lehmann fell into
his goal while watching the ball arch onto the crossbar and Ugur Boral smash in the
rebound.
It didn't take Germany long too get back on level terms; as Bastian
Schweinsteiger latched onto Lukas Podolski's low cross from the left.
Jens Lehmann almost had a nightmare, just after the half-hour, as he
miss-read Hamit Altintop's free-kick and had to make a sharp punch at it to redeem
himself.
On another German break, Lukas Podolski broke free on the left but
didn't notice the run of Miroslav Klose in the middle, as he concentrated on the shot at
goal for himself.
Germany must be going into the dressing room at the break feeling
somewhat relieved.
Half-time: 1:1
Uproar at the start of the second-half as Philip Lahm was taken down,
by Sabri Sarioglu, as he was running into the penalty area. Not even a free-kick was give,
outside the area.
To make up for it, Massimo Busacca produced a yellow card when Semih
clattered into substitute Torsten Frings.
Things began to get a little scrappy; until Turkey decided to play
some football again, around the hour mark.
With extra-time looking a possibility, Rustu came running off his line
to punch dramatically at thin air; as Miroslav Klose connected the ball with his head.
At the other end, Lehmann flapped the ball away from his line as Semih
was closing in at the far post.
Then four minutes from the end of play, another goalkeeping error
gives fans football fans the fourth goal in this first semi-final; as Turkey made another
remarkable comeback. Sabri, the Turkish right-back made Philip Lahm look like a novice and
Jens Lehmann looked even more embarrassed as Semih slipped the ball past him at the near
post.
Philip Lahm made amends as he dashed down the left, cut inside for a
one-two, and scored past Rustu; who seemed to go down early.
An excellent game of football, worthy of a semi-final; although
perhaps Turkey deserved to be playing extra-time.
Final Score:
Germany 3 - Turkey 2
Goalscorers:
0:1 Ugur Boral (22)
1:1 Bastian Schweinsteiger (26)
2:1 Miroslav Klose (78)
2:2 Semih Senturk (86)
3:2 Philip Lahm (90)
Teams
Germany:
1 Jens Lehmann; 16 Philip Lahm, 21 Christoph Metzelder, 17 Per Mertesacker, 3 Arne
Friedrich; 20 Lukas Podolski, 6 Simon Rolfes, 13 Michael Ballack, 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger,
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger; 11 Miroslav Klose.
Turkey:
1 Recber Rustu; 3 Hakan Balta, 4 Gokhan Zan, 16 Ugur Boral, 20 Sabri Sarioglu; 16 Ugur
Boral, 19 Ayhan Akman, 7 Mehmet Aurelio, 22 Hamit Altintop, 18 Colin Kazim-Richards; 9
Semih Senturk.
Referee:
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
Substitutions:
46 Mins - 8 Torsten Frings on for 6 Simon Rolfes
81 Mins - 21 Mevlüt Erdinç on for 19 Ayhan Akman
84 Mins - 10 Gökdeniz Karadeniz on for 16 Ugur Bora
92 Mins - 11 Tümer Metin on for 18 Colin Kazim-Richards
92 Mins - 2 Marcell Jansen on for 11 Miroslav Klose
 1 Yellow Card:
53 Mins - Semih Senturk (Turkey)
Onto the Euro 2008 Final.
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