Euro 2008 Liveblog: Turkey v. Czech Republic

Here it is. The first last day of the tournament. Yes, Group A gets sorted today, and this is the match that will do the sorting. While Portugal takes it easy against the host Swiss on the other side, Turkey take on the Czechs for the second qualifying spot into the next round.

Before we get to the tale of the tape, a quick look should be taken at our Euro 2008 Pick 'em on ESPN.com. At the top of the group, two users who are definitely not UF writers. For shame, us! El Ninos d'Or and Ballack's Bollocks lead the early charge. If this one of these is you, feel free to gloat in the comments. These two have correctly guessed 11 of the first 16 matches. They are closely followed by a group of six with one less correct. Over the next four days, though, I am confident that Joey Barton's Cellmate will rise to the top of the group.

It seems we can't do a live blog (save one) without highlighting the lovely ladies of the competing countries. Today will be no different. After all, it is Father's Day, and these ladies have fathers, so we have to.

Turkey will go first.
This is Gizem Ozdilli. Besides having a snickerable first name, meh.

And for the Czechs, we have Adriana Karembeu
Yes, please. And she is married to former French footballer Christian Karembeu. So, there's that.

Well, it should be pretty obvious who wins this matchup--the girl from the country I picked to win the whole shebang. Join me after the jump to watch me meltdown as the Czechs fail to advance at the first hurdle.

For bonus fun, you can play "Count the Misspellings" in the comments. With these two teams, I'll be sure to make it worth your while.

Turkey's speculative lineup (4-4-2):
Demirel; Altintop, Gungor, Cetin, Balta; Tuncay, Topal, Aurelio, Turan; Senturk, Nihat (C).

And for the Czechs (4-5-1):
Cech; Grygera, Ujfalusi (C), Rozehnal, Jankulovski; Sionko, Polak, Matejovsky, Galasek, Plasil; Koller.

Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)--the guy who did the UEFA Cup final, again.

Interestingly, this game will go to an immediate penalty shoot-out at the end of full-time if the match is tied.

On to the game.

So, another 4-5-1 for the Czechs. I wonder how long that will hold out?

-1.00 Alright, I've had an obscene amount of coffee, started the wash, have a boxful of doughnut holes next to me and an empty house. As long as the cable and internet hold out, let's have some fun.

0.00 Man, I wanted to see Kazim Kazim today. Also, I wanted to see the blue jerseys.

0.00 Hey Turkey, how about figuring out what shoes you want to wear before kick-off? Blatant time-wasting to let the other game get started first.

0.10 The Czechs waste no time on the kick-off attempting to get a shot on goal. Over and wide, though.

2.00 Free kick from the right for the Czechs. two players wide open on the back post, and. . .nothing.

4.00 The Turks seem to be playing for penalties already. A free kick at midfield is taken by their keeper.

5.30 Yellow Card Turkey get the first yellow as Topal fouls Polak in midfield

8.00 Czech Republic are not afraid to shoot today, though nothing is going on net. I was serious about Turkey playing for penalties. Time-wasting at the back seems to be the order of the day. Maybe since it worked for their good friends the Greeks four years ago?

10.00 Yellow Card Um, I didn't see it. Aurelio CetinAurelio goes into the book for Turkey, possibly for getting his elbows up on a header challenge against Koller. for dissent. Since Koller is so tall, Aurelio gets him in the upper back. The resultant free kick leads to a header over the bar.

14.00 Gungor gets a talking to, Camera cuts away before any card shown.

15.00 The ref, who had such high praise from us before, does not want to see Turkey challenge for high headers, it would seem. Every time a Turk goes for the ball, they are deemed to be fouling the (to be fair, perfectly positioned) Czechs.

16.00 I was correct earlier, Aurelio also got a yellow for dissent. Tuncay shoots wide for the Turks.

17.00 Matejovsky shoots weakly from distance, but on net. Keeper covers it easily.

18.00 Another correction. Cetin was not booked, only Aurelio.

22.00 More attacks from the Czechs, but no finishing touches. Turkey still playing rough.

24.00 Actual attacking possession from Turkey. Comes to nothing as they pass it back to the defense.

25.00 Sionko does not miss by much. Aims for the far, upper corner from outside the box and puts it a foot over.

26.00 Aurelio writhes in pain after a tackle from Rozenhal. Gets up without magic spray.

28.00 Turkey are doing a fabulous job at frustrating the Czechs. The whistles have calmed down and Turkey, though not packing the back, are keeping the Czechs from any good attacking moves.

31.00 For two teams with nothing to play for, the other match sounds pretty exciting. Dammit.

32.00 Another Turk on the ground. This time it is Altintop, who took a ball to the ribs. Get up nancy-boy.
(10 seconds pass, play stops for him)
He did.

33.00 So close. Czechs cross in from the left, Sionko tracks it and the keeper smothers.

34.00 Goal! Fuck yeah, the Czechs score. Koller with a header (who'd a thunk it?) off a cross from Grygera. Turkey, the US feels your pain.

36.00 Nihat's corner forces a nice reaction from Cech as he beats Turan to the ball.

38.00 Matejovsky has to be carried off the pitch and substituted after a collision with Tuncay. It didn't look that bad, but Jarolim comes on anyway.

39.00 The goal has aroused the attacking instincts of the Turks. Czechs on the back foot for now.

42.00 Yep. You can't coach tall. Koller has another shot at goal on a long free kick. At goal, not on goal. Over by six feet.

43.00 The Czechs have their attacking verve back. Koller, like Klose, should not be relied on to shoot with his feet, though.

45.00 Hey look the Tigers might have a winning streak going. The Bottom Line always gets me. 2 minutes extra time.

45.00 +3 (Stealing this) Tweet. Tweet. Tweeeeet. Half time.

Czechs came out as the team wanting to win, and got the goal that might do it. The referee calmed down after 20 minutes or so, so Turkey doesn't have as bad a yellow card problem as they looked to in the first 15. Czechs are down a sub already, and tired second-half legs may fail them yet.

Turkey did show flashes of attacking ability after giving up the goal, but were hanging their heads by the half. We should see a pretty open affair in the second half with only one question to be answered.

How long do Turkey wait to pull the goalie?

Oh, and I'm not watching Foudy, sorry.

Shots 9-5 Czechs, 3-2 on goal. Possession is even.

45.00 Sarioglu on for the Turks, Senturk is off.

46.00 Cech is also very tall. Cleans up on a Turk free kick.

47.00 Turks pressing early. Another couple quick chances for them.

50.00 Czechs are definitely backed in, and looking for counterattacking chances, which aren't materializing.

51.00 Perhaps there is a strong wind? The Turks, attacking the goal the Czechs did in the first half, are all over their opponents. Now for their third corner in four minutes.

52.00 "The Czechs have a lot of defending to do here" No shit. Turkish fans are in full voice as Tuncay gets saved by Cech. It's probably time to take Koller off and get someone who is speedier in there.

54.00 On cue, Koller kills a possession with a poor pass.

55.00 Cech cleans up again. The Czechs are playing with eight in the box right now and it is not enough. Turkey must have had some kick-ass coffee over the break.

57.00 Kazim Kazim (Richards) is in! Topal off for the Turks.

58.00 Altintop with a great ball from the right, right across the six-yard box, but the Turk forwards forgot to make runs.

59.00 Some interesting looking Cech fans in the stands. Gungor is down for the Turks. Gets stretchered off.

61.00 Koller gets a breakaway, and left foots the ball three yards wide. Ouch.

62.00 Goal! Plasil comes in from way over on the left to slide in Sionko's cross. Keeper gets a hand to it, but cannot bat the ball out. 2-0

64.00 For looking so bright coming out of the half, the Turks start to look defeated, deflated and chippy. Turan gets a Yellow Card for Turkey. Turkish coach is well-pissed that he was not allowed to substitute for the injured Gungor before the second goal.

66.00 Linesman needs a new flag, or Cialis.

67.00 Czechs, well aware of the hurting Turkey looks to put on them now, are diving to get foul calls.

68.00 Turks go close after the Czech defense tries the always-ineffective "let's all raise our hands" defense. Cech bails them out with his positioning.

Other Game Swiss go up 1-0.

71.00 ESPN, fucking quit it! I don't care about the other game. Polak off the post as ESPN breaks in with the other score.

Polak paid for it on the rebound, as he got his face scraped with studs trying for the header. He will be the second player playing with a headwrap today.

73.00 Yellow Card Asik (the other head-wrapped guy) takes down Rozenhal who was way forward. Very close to being last man back, too.

75.00 Goal! Arda Turan scores after Altintop's cross from the endline dribbles all the way across the box. Arda goes near post, beating Cech with ease 2-1

77.00 Altintop is playing off of his head on the right side.

78.00 Two more great chances for the Turks come from the right. Can the Czechs hold out? They look spent.

79.00 Turkiye! Turkiye! Turkiye!. This match is pulsating, and the crowd is in full voice. Koller still in. Why?

80.00 Yellow Card Galasek for the Czechs. Kadlec on for Plasil.

Other game Another goal for the Swiss.

82.00 Altintop puts the ball right on Cervi's head from two yards out. Cervi glances it wide. I really like this second half Turk squad.

83.00 It's the Czech squad who have started to hack at their opponents. If Galacek did not already have a card, he would have just earned one.

84.00 Vlcek on for Sionko. Koller to play entire match, die of heart attack afterwards.

85.00 Czechs are completely packed in, but the Turks are getting close.

87.00 Goal!!! Cech fumbles a cross (Altintop, natch) at the six yard box and
Nihat pokes it in. I started this game pulling for the Czechs, but dammit, I cheered.

89.00 HOLY SHIT
GOAL!!! Turkey score again. Nihat onside, Czechs try to claim otherwise. Raised arms don't stop attack. Nihat squeezes the ball under the bar. I'm breathless.

90.00 Four minutes added time.

90.00 +2 Red Card Turkish keeper Demirel sent off after making a hash of a clearance. Punched Koller after the ball was out. No subs left. Tuncay in the net. No penalty kick.

90.00 +4 Yellow Card Ufjalusi, I don't know what it was for, I can't keep up.

90.00 +5 Yellow Card Baros, who isn't even on.

90.00 +5 Full Time Give me some time to breathe before I recap.


That's it. I am a full-on Turk supporter for the rest of this tournament.

Just saw another angle on Nihat's second. Fuck me, that was a great shot.

Well, they started the game as negative as could be, but Turkey showed what it takes to win a game from two down in the second half. Altintop is, by far, my man of the match. He abused Czech Republic's left side for the entire second-half.

I can't help but believe that if Baros was in for Koller in the second half, the speedier player could have finished a counter to make it 3-0 at some point. Simply put, Turkey were pressed forward, and Koller did not have the wheels to put them under pressure.

I don't know if I can watch the US game now. I'm almost emotional at how good this game was.

PR-
Red Card whistled for at 1.30 of added time, game restart at 3.15. Added time was 4 minutes, whistle blown at 5.21.

They did lose some time, but also got called for 2 yellow cards in the same time. I think the ref took all of it into account.

I do agree that some more time was warranted, but the Czechs were no longer on the attack.

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Finally--The group is done, with Turkey joining Portugal in the second round. Turkey will face Croatia, while Portugal are most likely to see Germany (though Poland and Austria both still have a shot).