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Euro 2008: Croatia vs. Turkey (Your Running Commentary)

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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.

Comments

  1. LOL – gotta love Srna’s breakdown after the game and all those Ustashi fans crying. The Turks have made this a tournament to be remembered for the ages. These guys play with passion and balls – two things the Americans desperately need. The MLS should scour the Turkish 2nd Division for players. For example, for the $200k plus the Fire pays worthless Frankowski, they could get 4 good young Turks. Long Live Turkey!

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  2. anyone think soccernet’s coverage is a little biased? “so cruel on croatia” – they did it to themselves and did not dominate the game by any means as the lead story indicates

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  3. What an ending for Turkey…again! I wanted Croatia to win a little bit more, but they just couldn’t finish. But Turkey deserved it.

    Good luck to them the next game, they’ll need it with the injuries and suspended players. I’ll root for them against Torsten “hand-ball” Frings and the Germans.

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  4. I don’t know why Bilic was complaining…it’s pretty standard to add a minute for a goal (his boys were celebrating for longer than that) and 30 seconds for a sub…both occurred in the second period of extra time. The goal was scored right before the one-minute mark of stoppage.

    Who am I kidding. Of course he’s going to complain. That was crushing. What an amazing finish. I picked Turkey here and I might have to pick them again…insane…

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  5. Why the whistle was not blown before that Turkey goal is beyond me. There should not have been more than one minute of stoppage time. I sincerely hope they get crushed mercilessly by Germany.

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  6. UNREAL… that is all you can say… this team has got Champions destiny all over them. What heart and luck all rolled into one.

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  7. I have to say that as soon as Turkey scored that equalizer the PKs were decided. I just didn’t see a young Croatia team being able to re-focus and make their penalties. At the end of the day Croatia had chances they didn’t finish. I feel the worst for Modric, who should have had three assists on the day but his teammates couldn’t finish.

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  8. I cannot F-ing believe I missed the last several minutes. I didn’t tape it at home, either. Replay anyone know about?

    Thanks…

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  9. I don’t think Croatia quite recovered from the shock of being tied in the last seconds of the extra time. The Turkish goalkeeper got into their heads.

    It’s too bad for a very good Croatia team, but all kinds of compliments to Turkey for having the perseverance to win.

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  10. Altintop slots away the 3rd Turkish penalty to the keeper’s right!!

    Croatia must score, and the substitue Petric is up.

    SAVeD BY RUSTU!!! Keeper makes the decisive save, and Turkey advances!!!!

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  11. Srna and Turan took them respectivelyy

    3rd Croatian penalty missed!!! Rakitic missed to the keeper’s right. Almost a mirror image to Modric’s.

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  12. 1st Croatia Penalty to be taken by Modric.

    MISSED!!! hit with conviction, but missed to the keeper’s left!

    1st Turkey Penalty by Arda

    SCORED!! Keeper guessed right, but couldn’t keep it out.

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  13. What looked to be a dull game destined for penalties has turned into quite the dramatic contest.

    As a fan of the 2 teams involved, it may be a cruel way to end it, but as a neutral, the penalty shootout is compelling.

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  14. Imagine being Croatia now. One minute you’re thinking about the celebration, the next you have to take a penalty kick. WOW.

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  15. The theme of this tournament (or at least 1 of them) has to be bonehead keeper mistakes. Again, a goalkeeper ventures out of the net, and IT ALMOST costs Turkey the tournament. As I type this, Turkey levels the score AGAIN.

    I am routing for Croatia, but respect to the Turkish team for playing to the last second.

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  16. Klasnic headed home a shot from close range. Rustu goes from hero to goat, as he wandered out to collect the ball, and was too late getting into goal.

    120th minute- GOAL TURKEY

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  17. 118th minute- Kovac conceded a corner, as the Turkish sub made an immediate impact in forcing the corner, but nothing came to it.

    119th minute- GOAL CROATIA!!!!

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  18. 118th minute- Kovac conceded a corner, as the Turkish sub made an immediate impact in forcing the corner, but nothing came to it.

    119th minute- GOAL CROATIA!!!!

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