Germany - Turkey 3:2 (1:1)


Match Number: 	807
Date:		25-June-2008
Location:	Basel, Switzerland
Competition:	Euro 2008, Semifinal


GERMANY:
Lehmann
A. Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm
Rolfes (46. Frings), Hitzlsperger
Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski
Klose (90. Jansen)

TURKEY:
Rüstü
Sabri, Mehmet Topal, Gökhan, Hakan
Mehmet Aurelio
Kazim (90. Tümer), Hamit Altintop, Ayhan (81. Mevlüt), Ugur (84. Gökdeniz)
Semih

Scoring:
0:1 Ugur (22.)
1:1 Schweinsteiger (26.)
2:1 Klose (79.)
2:2 Semih (86.)
3:2 Lahm (90.)

Referee: Busacca (Switzerland)
Yellow cards: Semih

Attendance: 39,374 (sold out)
Germany defeats Turkey 3-2 and advances to the final. It wasn't easy, as the Turks were the better team in the 1st half, even taking the lead. Turkey was hurting for players, many missing through injury or suspension, but you wouldn't have guessed early on, as they pressured a lame looking German squad. Indeed Kazim-Kazim-Richards-Richards hammered a shot off the cross bar as GK Jens Lehmann flailed aimlessly. Lehmann also looked crap as he fanned on a weak header from Boral - the ball dribbled under his arms as he sat on it in goal. However only a few minutes later, in perhaps the only coherent German move in the 1st half, Podolski put in a killer cross than the onrushing Schweinsteiger flicked home. The Turks continued to hae more of the play, but were unable to get any tangible advantage. In the 2nd half, Germany began to dominate possesion, almost locking the Turks in a boa-constrictor vice. Still, despite the domination, the Germans rarely threatened, except for thumping off-target blasts by Thomas Hitzlsperger. Particularily invisible were Miro Klose and Michael Ballack. Yet it was Miro Klose who grabbed the lead with a header that dribbled over the line, although most of the World didn't see it, as lightening strikes took out most TV feeds. However, the never-say-die Turks refused to give up, and ended up with a stunning equalizer only a couple minutes from time. Then came the stunner: just before the final whistle, a double pass from Philip Lahm and Hitzlsperger gives Lahm the opening, and the smallest player on the pitch hammers the ball home for the German victory. Germany will go on to face the winner of the Spain-Russia clash. Turkey goes home, but their outstanding effort in this tournament does not go unnoticed.
Abseits Guide to German Soccer