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Unimpressive Germany squeaks into final

David Hytner

Turkey, for a change, falls to a brilliant goal by Lahm

Basel: Turkey was supposed to have the patent on last-minute heroics but on another thrilling night at this European Championship it eventually found out that the boot was on the other foot. It kicked it hard and cruelly.

Perhaps Fatih Terim’s team had used up all of its luck. There had been something slightly surreal about Turkey’s progress into this semifinal, each of its victories surpassing the last in terms of the drama.

After the injury-time success against Switzerland there had been the outlandish comeback against the Czech Republic, when a 2-0 deficit with 14 minutes to go was turned into a 3-2 win, and then came the penalty shoot-out triumph in the quarterfinal against Croatia, after Semih Senturk’s 120th-minute equaliser.

Senturk strikes again

Senturk struck again here with typically theatrical timing to set the scene for a victory that would have topped the lot. His equaliser was just reward for a stunning team performance and, as extra-time loomed, few people could have wagered against the Turks.

Despite its slim resources — injury and suspension meant the manager had only 14 fully fit and available players from whom to choose — it had enjoyed the better chances and played the more exciting football.

The thunderstorm which hit Vienna and interrupted TV coverage was matched by the electricity of Turkey’s game.

This time, though, it was Germany which produced the sting in the tale. Second-best for lengthy periods it dug deep to conjure the decisive blow.

Only 30 seconds of regulation time remained when Philipp Lahm, the full-back who was a central figure throughout, jinked inside from the left and heard Colin Kazim-Richards, the Turkey winger, go down in agony having turned an ankle.

Lahm pressed on, exchanged passes with Thomas Hitzlsperger and suddenly he was inside the area, confronted by the goalkeeper, Rustu Recber. He picked his spot inside the near post and the established order was reinforced.

Turkey knew only the misery that it had previously inflicted on others.

Underdogs

Few people had given the Turks a chance against the tournament favourite, which had got into their stride with ominous timing, but Terim’s players revelled in their underdog status and it was they who carried the fight from the off.

Kazim-Richards rattled the crossbar early on and when he struck it again, with a looping shot, the rebound fell kindly for Ugur Boral to volley Turkey into the lead, Jens Lehmann being beaten scruffily through his legs.

Having been rocked on to its heels by Turkey’s swagger and still struggling to knit two passes together, Germany finally stirred. With its first chance it restored parity, Lukas Podolski centring from the left and Bastian Schweinsteiger flicking the ball home in style. It was cruel on Turkey and worse might have followed when Podolski was sent clear by Hitzlsperger but, confronted by Rustu, lifted the ball over the bar.

Yet Turkey finished the half in the ascendancy. Lehmann was forced to claw away free-kicks from Altintop and Boral, and it was scarcely credible how much space the Turks enjoyed. With their midfield five enjoying the games of their lives and Terim’s tactics appearing to be spot-on, Germany looked shell-shocked.

Inflamed passions

Passions were inflamed in the second half, however. Terim raged when he felt that Lahm should have been booked for a foul, and at the other end Sabri Sarioglu upended the marauding full-back and the Germany bench emptied.

Although the initial contact took place outside the penalty area it was a foul, and the Swiss referee’s grip on proceedings began to be questioned.

The game looked up for the Turks when Rustu came for a high ball from Lahm and was beaten to it by Miroslav Klose, who headed down and into the empty net, but Turkey is a team which never know when it is beaten. Sabri tricked Lahm and Senturk tickled the ball in at the near post. Ultimately a fourth comeback win was too much to ask for.

The result: Germany 3 (Bastian Schweinsteiger 26, Miroslav Klose 79, Philipp Lahm 90) bt Turkey 2 (Ugur Boral 22, Semih Senturk 86). — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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