Go up a goal against Turkey at your peril. Because you will lose. Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and now Croatia.
After 122 minutes of a grueling match, it was suddenly over in a flash. Semih Senturk’s last second equalizer seemed to have drained all the life out of Croatian legs as the penalty shootout unfolded. Modric and Rakitic tiredly sprayed it wide and Petric’s shot was saved by Rustu. On the other end, for all too brief a moment it appeared that Stipe Pletikosa had turned away Turan’s PK but the ball jammed its way through. The rest of the PKs were converted with ease.
Turkey had snuffed out Croatia’s hopes. In the end, it was the team with the greater mental strength that prevailed. A bereft Darijo Srna was comforted by Slaven Bilic, his face contorted with grief, his anguished wailing painful to watch. It had gone so swimmingly well in stoppage time as Luka Modric’s cross drew Rustu yards out of position, Klasnic headed the ball as Rustu scrambled back unsuccessfully. Fatih Terim could only gesticulate in dsigust. Two minutes left and not even the resilient Turks could dream of coming back. But Rustu blasted the ball towards the other end, and as the ball dropped from the sky, the Croats fell away, and in a dream sequence, Semih garnered the ball and gratefully drove it past a diving Pletikosa. Bilic ran onto the field apoplectic at the referee’s apparent tardiness with the clock. The Turks were galvanized.
Bilic’s first order of business post Euro will be to rebuild his team’s self confidence. They have to get on very quickly with the business of qualifying for the World Cup. England, no doubt will be watching very closely, their ability to rebound.
But Turkey has been the wonder team of this Euro. Fatih Terim’s pugnacious personality permeates this team. He looks like a prize fighter when he stalks the sidelines punching the air, willing his team to another level. But Terim’s task is made easier with a player like Tuncay Sanli, who apparently only needs the motivation of playing for his country. The man motors tirelessly up and down the field. His job description is that of a striker and to the great relief of all of Turkey, he does not take that seriously because he is also one of their best midfielders as well as defenders. He is in short, omnipresent.
He will be missed against Germany as will be Adhar Turan and Volkan Demirel, their first choice goalkeeper. But Germany better watch out. Their reputation as a team that can never be counted out is seriously being challenged.