No lie: Slaven Bilic saved me at World Cup ’98. When you’re a rookie American reporter covering a team without many English-speaking players, you find out which ones speak the language well and latch onto those guys for dear life. At World Cup ’98 that meant I became a quasi-stalker of France’s Franck LeBoeuf, Brazil’s Roberto Carlos (who at least spoke Spanish as his second language, like I do) and Croatia’s Bilic—who could provide pithy analysis (and the occasional heavy-metal band recommendation) as my go-to quote on the surprise World Cup semifinalists.
(Of course, Bilic also perpetrated one of the most shameful fakery incidents in soccer history in that tournament, but that’s a story for another day.)
Back in ’98 I never would have assumed that 10 years later the same Bilic would be coaching Croatia at age 39, much less leading the checker-boarders to the brink of another surprise semifinal berth in a major soccer tournament. (At least he’s still got the earring and the heavy-metal music going for him.) But Bilic’s team has been a marvel in Euro 2008: tactically solid, technically precise, and with enough confidence on the ball to drop a 15-pass build-up on Germany before scoring (for me, at least) the best possession-based goal of the tournament.
Suddenly, Slaven Bilic is a rising star in the coaching world. Next thing you know Dennis Rodman will be an NBA coach.
Anyway, now that we’ve seen one Euro 2008 group winner (Portugal) already eliminated by Germany in the first quarterfinal, will we see another one (Croatia) go down today? Let’s dive in:
Croatia-Turkey (2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN). Croatia stunned just about everyone by going 3-0 in Group B and upsetting the Germans. Turkey, meanwhile, has engineered Euro 2008’s only two come-from-behind wins, including its classic 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic to get here.
It would be easy to dismiss the Turks based on who they’re missing (essentially the spine of their defense): goalkeeper Volkan Demirel (suspended) defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurélio (suspended) and central defenders Servet (injured) and Emre Gungor (injured). But we’ve learned in this tournament that Turkey is highly adaptable, and its offensive firepower remains intact in Nihat, Tuncay and breakout starlet Arda Turan. I’d be very surprised if the Turks don’t score a goal today.
Yet while the Turks have shown a remarkable mental toughness in Euro 2008, Croatia’s mentality has been just as strong and far less stress-inducing, essentially boiling down to this: We won’t need to engineer comebacks because we’ll grab the game by the neck from the opening whistle. The Croatian dominance has been all the more impressive because star playmaker Luka Modric hasn’t had a great tournament yet.
I think Modric will show up in a big way in this game and take advantage of Mehmet Aurélio’s absence. Croatia has gotten sterling wing play from the left side (Ivan Rakitic and Danijel Pranjic) and the right (Darijo Srna), so look for them to continue banging balls into the box and putting the makeshift Turkish defense under heavy pressure. Substitute goalie Rüstü Reçber has big-tournament experience (remember him in World Cup ’02?) but there’s a reason he’s no longer the No. 1. Sorry, Turks: no comeback this time. Croatia 3, Turkey 1.
Who do you like in today’s game? How do you think Croatia or Turkey would stack up against the resurgent Germans in the semifinals? Please post your comments below and come back after the game for the next edition of the Euro 2008 blog ...
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Comments (33) Add A Comment
I think Turkey has the drive to pull off another great match tonight against Croatia. Just because Croatia won easily in most of their games and Turkey needed last minute miracles doesn't mean that Croatia is a better team than Turkey. I don't think that this is going to be a very tight match, and whoever will win will win easily. I think it's going to end Turkey 2-1 Croatia with Turkey scoring the first two goals. Watch out for Tuncay Sanli.
VeritasVosLiberatit
Glenview , IL
Total Comments (2)
Right on Wahl. I've been listening to the Turkish faithful in the euro2008.com chat rooms calling them 'a team of destiny' ever since their comeback win against the Czechs. While I don't deny they've played some memorable games, I just don't see them pulling this one off without Aurelio and Volkan. If they somehow put Croatia on ice, I will give that label some merit. One thing is for sure: this will be a very entertaining match. Personally, I can't wait to see a Croatian/German rematch. Naprijed vatreni!
bygwyllay
Ypsilanti, MI
Total Comments (17)
I think for Turkey, the miracles are gone. To my opinion, Croatia will win this match to meet he Germans again in the semis...
but both teams showed they're willing to fight till the end, which might make the match fun to watch at...
Millen
Church Hill , TN
Total Comments (21)
You forget Spain's win against Greece as another come-from-behind. Sure it was meaningless, but a comeback win nonetheless.
AKap
Clemson , SC
Total Comments (1)
I like your 3-1 result in favor of Croatia.
Turkey had a spectacular run.
barkking
Sacramento , CA
Total Comments (65)
All eyes on Germany-Croatia in the semi's. That will be a great match.
Will there be enough bodies left for the final?
barkking
Sacramento , CA
Total Comments (65)
Love the Turkish spirit (and their food!) but their luck runs out today. They will just be missing too many key pieces and they are not deep enough to withstand the solid Croatian attack.
Germany gets another shot at the Croats in the Semis and makes it right.
Germany and Holland in the final!
BruinsWin!
Total Comments (290)
I think it will be a 2 goal margin for Croatia going into the final 15 minutes when Trukey scores to set up another pulsating finish. Croatia will hold on to win much like the Germans yesterday.
DriveC
Madison , WI
Total Comments (47)
I'm not surprised Croatia has played this well, but I don't like how the brackets were set up. Group winners should not play others from their group until the Final Game. Group rematches Croatia-Germany and Holland-Italy do not excite me because they unfairly favor the teams that lose in the group round (Germany and Italy)
tvasich
Total Comments (7)
> Croatia will win this match to meet he Germans again in the semis
>
Yes, really nice schedule of EURO. And Russia will meet Spain in the semi too.
D??j?? vu
ExMax
Total Comments (30)
I can see that site can not process non-american characters ((( OK, I will repeat this way: Deja vu
ExMax
Total Comments (30)
Turkey's been playing the kind of soccer that can't last forever, whereas Croatia have been solid though out. End of the road for Turkey, Germany - Croatia rematch coming up.
SirJeffersII
Reno , NV
Total Comments (4)
Russia will not meet Spain, Mr. ExMax, give me a break. How can people still not believe Holland is great after dismantling the two world cup Finalist without batting an eye? Russia looked awesome against Sweden, but the Dutch are in a league of their own right now. (Well maybe Spain is in their league too.)
SirJeffersII
Reno , NV
Total Comments (4)
The refereeing in world football is atrocious. Besides all the flopping, fake injuries, etc., player suspensions is ridiculous. The fact that one of the star teams of the tournament, the Turks, basically is playing their second line defense is ridiculous. It takes away from the spirit of the game, we want to see the teams at full strength. How am I supposed to enjoy like the Superbowl, if the Giants whole Defense is suspended and they have to play their second line D. It would be a massacre.
Coaches, goalkeepers, star players etc. have been tossed for games just for pleading their case. They should suspend minutes, not games. Dimerel made a boneheaded play, but two games!!! He shoved a player out of frustration at the end of a hard fought game, should miss like 10 minutes of the next game. Refs should not be soccer gods, they should be held accountable and be checked and balance. It's just frustrating to watch ina game with so much spirit.
World football is exciting but until some things get cleaned up, it will never become a major sport in the US.
That being said, I was looking forward to a great matchup of technique vs. tremendous passion/energy, but the Croats have too much firepower for Turks 2nd line D.
amorphous10
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (13)
Grant, I meant to respond to this when you blogged about it, but "Hrvatska" is not so far away from "Croatia." Especially if you consider the Croatian word to describe themselves, "Croat" or "Hravti." When the "H" is pronounced very heavily, it becomes a glottal consonant. Incidently, the "k" sound that begins "Croat" is also glottal. Not such a bad difference from a language with different origins and a different alphabet! (Try saying it with an Arabic "H".)
SirJeffersII
Reno , NV
Total Comments (4)
Croatia should go through but in the knockouts anything can happen (take Barnsleys FA Cup run for example!). considering that Turkey have Tuncay (a player who has been truly dreadful in the EPL for Mddlesborough- truly truly dreadful!) as one of their star players proves that on paper they are a fairly weak outfit but when it comes to straight up fights for survival anything can happen. my money would still be on croatia though - far more talented, more more organised and they have virtually everyone fit and available compared to the depleted Turks: Croatia 2-0 winners i reckon
Pub1
Pilgrims Knob , VA
Total Comments (17)
I can't say I like the scheduling of Euro for the playoffs with group rematches.
Anyway, this game should be phenomenal. It has some of the lower prestige teams playing in it, but I think it'll be one of the better quarterfinal games.
I see it 3-2 for Turkey, on a late goal by Turan.
billykyjoe
Saskatoon, SK
Total Comments (26)
oh, germany v croatia and italy v holland semi : italy v germany final : italy winners. croatia have never gone further than a semi and holland havent made a final since 88 (20 years ago) - experience in tournaments will shine through i reckon. am impressed the dutch havent done their usual self-implosion job yet so maybe there is hope for them yet :)
Pub1
Pilgrims Knob , VA
Total Comments (17)
I don't view Croatia as a "surprise", they are a solid football team. Everyone's saying that because they won their group instead of Germany but they've outplayed the Germans so far. As for Turkey how can you not root for the "darlings" of the tournament. The are the true Cinderella team. Even if they aren't as talented as some of the other teams they show a ton of heart and desire with a "never say die" attitude. I still favor Croatia to win. Who doesn't? but I'm expecting the Turks to play an exciting game.
Barca4Life
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (180)
Croatia has a tremendous team. let` s not forget their run in the qualifiers. So far they showed themselves as one of the most complete teams in the tournament. Modric needs to wake up, though. They might get through Turks with him playing as mediocre, but in order for them to beat Germans for the second time in two weeks he needs to star.
alkats
Fort Lee, NJ
Total Comments (2)
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