Euro 2008 Today
VIENNA, Austria (AP)—A look at Day 14 of the 2008 European Championship on Friday:
RESULTS
Turkey 1, Croatia 1 (Turkey wins shootout 3-1, advances to semifinals)
HIGHLIGHTS
Just as it did in the first round to beat the Czech Republic and make the quarterfinals, Turkey scored late to avoid elimination against Croatia. Then it won a penalty-kick shootout 3-1. Just moments after the Croats seemingly had won it. Semih Sunturk, who later scored in the shootout, got the equalizer from just inside the area off a free kick by goalkeeper Rustu Recber from near midfield.
STARS
Semih Sunturk scored in injury time of the extra period with a hard left-footed shot, then scored Turkey’s second goal in the shootout for a 3-1 victory over Croatia after a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals.
Ivan Klasnic, playing with a kidney donated by his father, got Croatia’s only goal in the 29th minute of extra time, seemingly the winner until Sunturk connected. Klasnic put in a header off a pass from Luka Modric.
HISTORY
Turkey will make its first trip the European Championship semifinals, six years after it made the World Cup final four, but lost to Brazil in the semis.
GOAL OF THE DAY
Trailing 1-0 in the dying seconds of injury time, Turkey had goalkeeper Rustu Recber take a free kick from midfield. It landed in the Croatia area, where Semih Sunturk sent a blistering left-footed shot into the top of the net to tie it with seconds remaining. Turkey then won the shootout 3-1 to make the semifinals.
LOOKAHEAD
The Netherlands, which powerfully swept Group C by outscoring opponents 9-1, plays Group D runner-up Russia in the quarterfinals in Basel, Switzerland. The Russians beat Sweden and defending champion Greece to advance.
QUOTABLE
“I tell my players never to give up. I tell them that they shouldn’t be afraid of losing or conceding goals. This is football. You should never give up until the referee blows the final whistle.”—Turkey coach Fatih Terim.
“Not only will we not forget this, this will haunt me for the rest of my life.”—Croatia coach Slaven Bilic.