Germany get EURO 2008 Final
25 June, 2008, 10:58 pm
Germany set up a Euro 2008 final against either Spain or Russia after a last-gasp Philipp Lahm goal earned them a 3-2 win over Turkey in Basel.
Ugur Boral put a dominant Turkey in front in the 22nd minute but Bastian Schweinsteiger drew the Germans five minutes later and, despite never impressing, took the lead through a Miroslav Klose header 11 minutes from time.
Turkey scored yet another late goal through Semih Senturk to send the game heading towards extra-time but Lahm finished off the best Germany move of the match in the final minute to put them in the final.
The pre-tournament favourites had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side for the game but it was Turkey - who were missing a raft of key players through injury and suspension - that set the early pace.
London-born forward Colin Kazim-Richards forced Jens Lehmann into the first action in the seventh minute and the former Brighton forward went even closer on 13 when he smashed a powerful effort against the bar following a cutback in the box from Ayhan Akman.
Turkey didn’t have to wait much longer to take the lead and Kazim-Richards was involved again as his right-wing cross on 22 was touched over Lehmann and onto the bar for Boral to bundle past the out-of-sorts Germany keeper and over the line from close range.
Joachim Low’s side were on the ropes but they were immediately sparked into action and equalised within five minutes. Lukas Podolski collected the ball on the left and his low cross into the box was expertly diverted into the far corner by Schweinsteiger, who had stolen a yard on his marker.
Semih, Hamit Altintop and Boral forced Lehmann into further action before the interval but it was the Germans who really should have taken a half-time lead with Podolski firing widly over after being put clean through by Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Germany were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty six minutes into the second period when Lahm was brought down by Sabri Sarioglu but the favourites rarely looked worthy of that tag in a game they never looked in charge of.
However it looked as though they had earned their place in the final on 79 when a flapping Rustu Recber was beaten to a deep cross by Klose, who headed into an empty net.
Turkey have seen plenty of late drama in this tournament, though, and they deservedly drew themselves level with just four minutes remaining when Lehmann somehow allowed Semih to toe-poke Sabri’s cross past him at the near post.
But, unbelievably, the drama was not over there and Germany did secure their place in Sunday’s showpiece when Lahm played a one-two with Hitzlsperger and fired superbly into the roof of the net from inside the box. Spain or Russia now await.
Germany coach Joachim Low admitted his side rode their luck. “It is an immense happiness that I am feeling,” said Low. “That was a battle in which we have expended a lot of energy. We weren’t very good in the first-half and in the second we weren’t that good either, but we gritted our teeth and we wanted the victory.”
“The Turks played really well, they chased after the ball a lot and maybe they ran after it very well and we had heavy legs and the heat didn’t do us any favours.”
Turkey coach Fatih Terim revealed he will probably step down after seeing his side lose to Germany.
Terim says he has decided to return to club management and that he will work outside Turkey.
“Most probably after speaking to the federation president and the players I will choose to say this is what I have done,” said Terim.
“I had declared earlier I would not be working in Turkey. I am a man who keeps my promises. So I will most probably go back to a European country.”
Terim was proud of his players after going so close to reaching the final.
“I congratulate Germany for their win and wish them success for final but I am proud of my players and think their will to play well, and the technical support, all came together and they were able to show the world what a good team they were,” added Terim.
“I think we are leaving as the most colourful team of the tournament. We can say we were almost there, but that is part of football as well.”
No comments yet.