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Turks spoil the Swiss party

Doninic Fifield

— Photo: AFP

Turan.

Basel: The Swiss have been cast out of their own party. Having clung to the possibility of a place in the latter stages in the deluge in Basel, the co-hosts were cruelly sunk deep into stoppage time to ensure the cries of “Hop Suisse” caught in the locals’ throats.

Misery has descended upon these parts; local enthusiasm for this tournament may just drain away.

Kobi Kuhn admitted this was “painful.” His team had expected to retain interest in the finals beyond this point. For a while here they had dared to dream of victory, Hakan Yakin’s goal — the forward has joint nationality, which added to the drama — separating the sides as the rain poured down.

Greater thrust

Yet the Turks grew in confidence as the surface water dissipated. Theirs was the greater thrust after the interval, even if Yakin forced Volkan Demirel into a fine save six minutes from time. The pivotal reward came in the final few seconds.

The Turks broke swiftly from shapeless Swiss pressure, the golden boy of their domestic league Arda Turan gathering down the left and cutting infield with home defenders panicked in retreat.

His right-foot shot flicked up off Patrick Müller’s heal as he turned his back, the ball looping through Diego Benaglio’s attempt to save and into the net. A win against the Czech Republic on Sunday will guarantee Turkey a place in the quarterfinals.

“Euro 2008 began for us tonight,” said Fatih Terim, the Turkey coach. “We have hope for the last game and, God willing, we will secure the win that will see us through.”

Sweet revenge

Having been denied a place at the World Cup finals two years ago by the Swiss, amid the mayhem of the “battle of Istanbul,” the Turks could consider this as revenge. Terim had instigated the revival with his introduction of pace and bite at the interval.

One of his substitutes, Semih Senturk, arrived at speed to plant an equaliser beyond Benaglio after stealing between Ludovic Magnin and Tranquillo Barnetta just before the hour mark. Nihat Kahveci’s cross had been glorious, though the Swiss should have been more wary.

The Villarreal striker’s first-half free-kick had been palmed by Benaglio on to Arda’s head, the ball deflecting on to a post and away. The home side did not learn their lesson.

Treacherous conditions

In truth, the treacherous conditions had invited defensive catastrophes. Where the Swiss let themselves down was in their inability to capitalise on what mistakes littered Turkey’s defending when conditions were at their worst.

The heavens had opened some 10 minutes in, the deluge extending to the interval to leave the turf saturated. Passes stuck in the stodge, players slipping greasily across the surface and constantly over-running the ball. The farcical conditions had contributed to Switzerland’s opening goal. They should have provided them with a decisive second.

Just after the half-hour, Philippe Senderos thumped forward for Eren Derdiyok to chase.

The striker caught up with the ball with ease as it skimmed through standing water, took it round a prone Volkan and squared calmly beyond Servet Cetin for Yakin at the far post. The ball settled momentarily in a puddle before the Swiss tapped into the empty net.

He did not over-celebrate and, seconds later, he was left to curse as Valon Behrami centred and, jogging in as Turkish defenders air-kicked all around, Yakin somehow sliced wide of a gaping goal. “The disappointment is huge,” admitted Kuhn, who will step aside as Swiss coach for Ottmar Hitzfeld after the tournament.

The result: Switzerland 1 (Hakan Yakin 32) lost to Turkey 2 (Semith Senturk 57, Arda Turan 90+2). — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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