Turks Win Another Epic: Was Doug Flutie Watching?

2009-09-05T15:34:10-04:00

2008-06-20T18:28:11-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:33-04:00

2008-06-22T14:39:50-04:00

Karpooz

Savannah 444319

Turks proved, there is a 4th outcome to a football match. Win, lose, draw or win it like the Turks. They just do 'it' better. 2039354

2008-06-21T13:40:13-04:00

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Blackadder08

Roscommon 440990

To those of you who say that Turkey got lucky winning these games coming behind, think again. In soccer you don't get lucky three times in a row. In order for Turkey to defeat Germany, Germany needs to score first. Just kidding, but for the last three games without seeing a goal in their net Turks were incapable of scoring. So for the entertaining value lets hope the Germans put the first goal in the net to energize Turkey to have all out attack and win the game. Anyway, it promises to be another dramatic game. I favor the underdogs, the Turks despite their depleted squad even though it is an impossible task against a strong and rested German side. 2034209

2008-06-21T12:38:34-04:00

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Big Chaco

Los Angeles 36694

They guy said a boring Germany-Italy final....all Germany-Italy games in tournaments have been amazing games! World Cup 1970 and 2006 especially 2033848

2008-06-21T08:42:32-04:00

Schnerres

Penokee 443463

First i have to admit i m from germany, so i m kind of pro-germany in this semifinal...But i think it s for good reason. The turks are about to miss 4 suspended players, at least 2 are in danger of missing it due to injury and lets not forget they just played 120 minutes with a day less to rest. They can fight, that is for sure, but it won t be enough to threaten the german weakness, the defense. Germany will create a few scoring chances and if gomez doesn t play, there is no one to miss them. In the other half of the bracket, everything seems unpredictable. I hope the spanish players live up to their expectations, they can outplay the italians and i hope they will. But you can never dismiss the italians until they are out. I think the russians can play with the netherlands especially because of the problems in NEDs defense and the fast attacks of russia. In the end i think the netherlands will beat spain and it will be a classic final between the rival germany and netherlands in which there is only one thing to say: defense wins championships and after a match with about 0 chances for the turks in the semis, i predict germanys defense has the daily form to keep netherlands forwards in check to win it all 2-1 in a huge battle xD 2033191

2008-06-21T05:03:48-04:00

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FCBarca

New York 199066

The truth is, Turkey can never be counted out really as we've plainly seen...However, even with a full strength squad I wouldn't be giving them a great shot at besting Germany...Moreover, Turks will be missing several key players...Love to see it continue for them but I just don't see it happening. As for the match, that last second goal was pretty epic, pretty unreal...Recber, goat to hero in less than a minute or so, eh?...I thought they were done, I thought wrong 2033147

2008-06-21T04:33:23-04:00

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Big Chaco

Los Angeles 36694

Finally, my predictions come true. I had Turkey in the semis and they made it 2033052

2008-06-21T04:18:00-04:00

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PowerStats Online

San Diego 440289

FINALLY, someone else realizing Recber was the story of the game. You forgot to mention that brilliant save he had on Srna's free kick. Srna basically plays the whole game with his head up his butt and then unleashes that picture perfect laser on a free kick to the upper right corner. I still can't believe Recber was able to push it out. The soccer is a bit dreadful to watch but you have to love Turkey's attitude. They never give up, play hard hard the whole time, if you foul them no excessive whining, just gets up and hustles. Very refreshing and good to see the right attitude be rewarded on the game's highest level. 2033109

2008-06-21T04:17:42-04:00

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Cassidy's House: Scarlett

Whatsittoya 33433

Not too sure about the Holland-Russia game tomorrow, although I'd pick the Dutch if I were gambling. On Sunday, it's Spain winning 3-1. Torres, Villa, y ole!!!! Yeah right, maybe if it was a game of charades. Psssh 2033141

2008-06-21T04:10:46-04:00

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mrearls7

The Dalles 53020

I'm an American living here in Germany, and I was unable to watch the game last night because I was stuck in traffic coming back from a job... I've missed every single one of Turkey's games in this tournament, and of course by missing them, I've missed evidently some of the best finishes in international football history. I can promise you that I will find a way to watch Germany-Turkey for two reasons. First, it's so much fun to watch a Germany match in a German pub surrounded by German fans, it's insane. Second, I have missed all of the magic Turkey has brought to this tournament, and would be remiss if I missed the possibility of more. I hated football, or soccer as I knew it by, pretty much all my life, I thought it was a boring private school sport. Then, in 1999, I got stationed in England, and started catching some Man United/England games, and got seriously hooked. I've lucked out as well to have been stationed at the last two World Cups (2002 I was in South Korea, and 2006 of course I was here in Germany). I'm a Philadelphia Eagles fan, and of course we're notorious in the US for being some of the most crazed passionate fans. What Americans don't understand is the level of passion and emotion and honest-to-God love that foreigners have for their international football teams. The German football fans make us Eagles fans back in the states look like Junior Varsity fans, it's amazing to be around. So I'll go to a pub and watch the Germany-Turkey match surrounded by Germans, and I'll be along for the ride... 2033108

2008-06-21T03:51:16-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/448/97/thumb/P1070540.jpg 63 FL

cerati9

Hialeah 45137

This was one of the most epic games I have ever seen. The whole tournament has been amazing. Man, what effort and fight that the Turks showed. I love seeing them play when they're on, it's bringing back memories of WC 2002 all over again for me. Rustu!!! Homeboy is a playa, love seeing that guy in goal, he can mess things up with an error and then comes back and makes up for it with some amazing saves. I seriously doubt the Turks can beat Germany but here's hoping they pull off another win. This is football at it's best. As for Holland-Russia, I have that funny feeling that Gus will inspire the Russians and will defeat Holland. And for Spain-Italy, I can't bet against the Italians, just can't. I knew they'd be here at this stage after they got crushed by Holland. You can never count out the Italians. 2033099

Three thoughts after Turkey eliminated Croatia on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals: • Rüstü to Semih = Flutie to Phelan. Every time you think the Turks are done, they come up with another epic comeback. Has soccer ever seen anything like this? Three times the Turks have been down in this tournament. Three times they have come back to prevail. Today’s comeback was the most unlikely yet. Turkey was dead and buried after Ivan Klasnic had put Croatia ahead in the 119th minute. One minute remained. Turkish legs were wobbly with fatigue. When goalkeeper Rüstü Reçber booted a Hail Mary free kick toward the Croatian box in the final seconds there was only one possible Turkish recipient: Semih Sentürk, who was surrounded by a half-dozen Croats. Naturally, the ball fell directly to Semih, who rocketed a shot into the upper 90 just seconds ahead of the final whistle. Absolutely insane. Did anyone think the Croats had a chance on penalties after that? Whatever the Turks have done to appease the Soccer Gods, they are getting a thousand-fold payback. • It really is a new tournament in the knockout rounds. Let me get this straight: two teams that clinched first place in their opening-round groups after just two games (Croatia and Portugal) are already out of the tournament in the quarterfinals. It’s yet another reminder that what’s important is to make it to the knockout stage ... and then forget everything that just happened. Opening-round style points just don’t matter anymore: a word to the wise for both Spain and the Netherlands. • The big winner today: Germany! Not only do the Germans now avoid a semifinal meeting with a full-strength Croatia (which has already beaten Germany once in Euro 2008), but they get to face a Turkey side that will be missing four top players to suspension (Tuncay, Arda Turan, Emre Asik and Volkan Demirel) and likely several others to injury (including Servet, Emre and Emre Gungor). I know the Turks have been highly adaptable, but right now they’re having a hard time finding 11 warm bodies to put out on the field. Through-balls: Have you ever seen a goalkeeper live through a 10-minute period of highs and lows more extreme than Rüstü Reçber did today? First he gifts the Croats their goal by venturing way too far off his line. Then he sends the Hail Mary to Semih for the last-second equalizer. And then he makes the game-clinching penalty save on Klasnic. The most-capped player in Turkish history just added a few more chapters to his story ... Arda Turan may just be 21 years old, but as he showed on Turkey’s first penalty (and in his late goals against Switzerland and the Czechs) he has nerves of steel ... Why do these TV commentators always act like a game is over when there’s still time on the clock—especially when Turkey is involved? ... Nice to see that Tommy Smyth knew the exact odds on the game, Brent Musburger-style ... The TV shot of Darijo Srna bawling like a baby afterward choked me up a little bit, too ... You think Volkan Demirel wishes he hadn't stayed in the technical area after his red card against the Czechs (which drew him a TWO-game suspension)? Have you ever seen a keep-hope-alive soccer team quite like Turkey? Do you think the Turks have any chance to beat Germany? And can this tournament find any way to possibly be more entertaining? (Oh yeah, Russia plays the Netherlands on Saturday.) Please post your comments below and check back tomorrow for the latest edition of the Euro 2008 Blog ... 1319 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615