A pair of Cinderellas are set to square off in the European Championship quarterfinals, with one set to earn a place in the semis. Croatia vs. Turkey. Two of the better stories of this tournament meet in what should be a thrilling match.
Croatia comes in as the heavy favorites thanks to Turkey’s massive absences due to injury and suspension. That said, can you count out a Turkey team that fought as hard as it did to reach this point? Can you rule out a team with Nihat Kahveci on it?
I am. I just see Croatia being too much for the undermanned Turks. Croatia goes through with a 2-0 victory.
If you plan on watching today’s quarterfinal, and will be online, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
117th minute- Turkey absolutely wastes a free kick in a great position, though the taker appears to be injured.
Turkey finally makes their 3rd sub, with Nihat coming out for Gokdeniz.
115th minute- Modric sent a long ball for Klasnic, which was intercepted by a Turkish defender, only to lose it to Klasnic, who couldn’t control it, saving the defender from embarassment. It was nearly that major blunder.
113th minute- Modric with some nifty moves in Turkey’s penalty area, but he is disposessed.
You have to feel that barring some major blunder, there will be penalty kicks.
111th minute- Turkey with possesion in Croatia’s final 3rd, a contant danger which didn’t result in a shot. One Turkish player headed the ball across to a teammate when he might have had a chance to take it down and shoot.
I’m watching from home.
106th minute- Croatia sends a long goal kick which finds its way into the Turkish box. Rustu was decisive in coming out for it, and it was fairly straightforward in a situation where it could have been dangerous.
108th minute- Emre Ashik with a yellow card. He will by the 3RD player who would miss the next match if Turkey wins, for those keeping count.
Moments later, Ashik heads a ball sent in right back to his keeper, who grabs it. Could’ve been dangerous.
manic, what feed are you using?
I agree with your assessment, by the way….Croatia may have blown its energy in the last few minutes of regular time.
First period of extra time over.
Turkey took control of that bit of play, and all of a sudden it is Croatia who seems to be holding on with all they have just to get to penalties.
103rd minute- After a small bit of possesion, Tuncay takes a shot from distance, which comes within a yard or so from going in!!! As it was, just to the left.
Croatia looks tired, leaving space for Turkey in possesion which wasn’t their earlier, and Turkey is taking advantage.
101st minute- Semih Senturk with a shot in the box, but it was put over the bar! Turkey have had their moments in extra time, which is surpsing to me. I didn’t think they had it in them.
99th minute- Turkey nearly had a chance. A clearance by a Croatian defender took a deflection off the face of a Turkish player, but the ball was cleared away. Bit of a dangerous moment for the Croatian defense.
98th minute- Klasnic coming in for Olic. Olic has had several opportunities to score, but has squandered most of them. Still, he worked hard, which is worth something I guess.
95th minute- Tuncay with a run that looked like it would end going out of the goal line, but ends in a shot that forces a save from Pletikosa! Good work from Tuncay.
93rd minute- Switch of play by Croatia to a wide open Srna, whose cross is to Olic. Appeal for a handball. I didn’t see it well enough to judge, but it would have to be blatant to get a call in that spot.
1st half of extra time begins.
It’ll be a grave injustice if Croatia doesn’t move on. Also, regarding Modric in the first half, it was his run and pass that created that shot off the bar.
Ugur Boral was the Turkish player cuationed.
93rd minute- Kovach blasts a shot from distance, which ended up as a pass to Olic, who had a shot at goal but put it over the bar!
Full time- It’s 0-0, but the game has picked up considerably in the 2nd half, and even more so for a frenzied finish. It’ll be interesting to see how much these 2 teams have in the tank. Croatia has had the better of the play by far, but Rustu has proven the difference for Turkey.
I just tuned in the last ten minutes and it’s been exhilirating to say the least….Croatia has got to be a little down not having put this one away…Manic’s right: Rustu has been terrific.
92nd minute- Srna with another good free kick. Rustu looks awkward, but makes the save. Rustu is the only reason Croatia are not up by multiple goals.
88th minute:91st minute- Breakaway by Croatia, but instead of passing it, the Croatia player is dispossesed. On the other side, Siminic does well to break up a Turkish attack for a corner.
Coming back, Rakitich is coming down the wing, and sends a shot which deflects for
a corner.
A Turkey player gets a retroactive yellow for clotheslining Srna to the ground.
The action has been quick the past few minutes.
Olic with a shot which is saved by Rustu!!
Croatia with another free kick.
the turkish keeper is on fire!
86th minute- Turkey come back with a free kick opportunity of their own, farther out. Altintop hit it into the wall. A wasted opportunity by Turkey.
great job Manic!
What a save by the turkish keeper off the free kick from about 25 yds out. Croatian went for the right upper 90, and the Turkish keeper JUST got a hand on it to push it out for a corner, which results in nothing…..
84th minute- Srna with a BEAUTIFUL shot, but an AMAZING save by Rustu!!! Unbelivable effort by both players.
83rd minute- Petric makes a long run through the midfield, shrugging off a tackle before being taken down in a great spot for a freekick, a few yards in front of the box and to the left of center.
78th minute- Turkey with a nice ball played into the box, but it was handled by the keeper and immediately sent Croatia on the break.
79th minute- Clutching and grabbing abound in the box on a corner for Croatia, which of course does not get called (unless you are a home nation about to get dumped out after 2 games).
76th minute- Mehmet Topal off for Semih. A positive substitution, even though Topal has probably had the best chance of the night for Turkey.
73rd minute- Rakitich puts in a cross from the left, Olic gets his head to it well, but pushes it slightly to the right and out of play. Beautiful ball in.
Croatia is definitely showing the form of the group winners now, even though they haven’t found the back of the net.
70th minute- Rakitich plays a 1-2, finds himself in the box with a great shot, but blasts it over the bar!!! An average finish and it would be 1-0 Croatia.
69th minute- Turkey’s lone striker has been completely starved of service from the midfield.
65th minute- Petric coming in for Kronjcar.
63rd minute- Modric played a beautiful ball into Olic, who was clearly offsides. I didn’t really notice Modric in the 1st half, but it’s been impossible not to notice him since.
61st minute- Kazim Kazim coming off for Ugur Boral. Turkey needed to change something, as Croatia has been very much in control in the 2nd half.
57th minute- Kronjar butsts into the penalty area after a good bit of play, but stikes it into the Turkish keeper, who was in good position to handle the shot. Modric was involved in that bit of play, which Croatia need to see more of.
51st minute- a slightly surreal bit of play as Croatia had a couple of opportunities to score. Olic nearly heads it into the net, but didn’t get enough power on it. Then the defense is lazy about clearing it, and Olic, who was coming from off the ground, almost headed it into the net again. Casual defense nearly cost Turkey.
53rd minute- Rakatic was in a good position alone with the defense in the box, and earned a corner, which was put out, but in dangerous position.
Croatia has come out energized to start the 2nd half.
49th minute- Arda with a yellow card for a tackle. Was it a foul? Yeah, but it seemed more clumsy than reckless. A soft yellow card. Arda will also miss Turkey’s next game if they advance.
2nd half begins
My man Modric is going to create something to help Croatia pull through in the second half.
thanks for the commentary manic. keep it up!
HALFTIME- It’s 0-0 between Croatia and Turkey. There have been a couple of good scoring chances, but it’s been a pretty dull game to sit through.
44th minute- The ball is knocked out of play as a Tukish player is down on the field. It was Tuncay, who was kicked by Kovac’s follow-through. He walked off the field on his own, which is encouraging.
38th minute- Mehmet Topal took a long distance shot that sails right of the crossbar! It looked a good bet to go in until late. The keeper might have had it covered, but it was a good effort from Topal.
35th minute- Neither side has seemed too likely to score at the moment.
27th minute- Sanli gets a yellow for an elbow to the back of Kovac’s head. He will miss the next match for Turkey if they advance.
26th minute- The play has begun to tilt towards the Turkish end, as Croatia is getting the better of the play.
Add, not… what I wrote. It seems a cruel joke now that s and d are right next to each other on the keyboard.
Croatia nearly scores. Ball played across the box and put off the cross-bar by the on rushing Croatian. I will simply say that Chad Barrett might have put that chance away. Croatia looks lively early….
I should also ass that Kronjcar had a 2nd look after the ball hit the crossbar, and put it over the net. He should’ve done better with it.
16th minute- I tuned into this game about 10 minutes late. Couldn’t quite decide whether I was going to watch or not. For my money, Turkey has been slightly better, though neither team has really impressed yet.
19th minute- As I was typing that, Croatia nearly scored. Modric made a quick run down the right, sent a ball through the middle of the box, where it was hit off the crossbar. When I first saw it, I thought it was 1-0.