Germany “Lahm” their way through
This Euro 2008 has been a tournament of surprises. The giants have been vanquished. The strongest teams have been dismantled. The smaller teams have shown their talent. And the first semi final was a testimony to that.
Turkey already had a depleted squad with 9 players out due to injury or suspension. Tuncay, Emre and Volkan, all out. But that did not stop them from trying to reach their first final.
Germany had a full strength squad with fully fit substitutes. Their players were in form. Many predicted a one sided game on their part. How very wrong they were.
Turkey started the game well, making a lot of chances, snatching the ball away from the Germans. They passed well, crossed beautifully and intercepted the German passes. In the 15’, they nearly took the lead when a pass to Kazim Kazim in the penalty box saw him hit the woodwork, though he thoroughly beat Lehmann. But the Turks were not to be denied. A throw in near the penalty box in the 22’ was passed to Kazim who did an awkward Bicycle kick which hit the woodwork again. But Ugur Boral followed it up, nudging the ball under Lehmann to give Turkey the lead.
But Germany had woken up, at long last. They started creating chances and passing well. Turkey had not held the lead in any Euro match for more than 9 minutes. This was true here.
In the 26’, a cross to sprinting Podolski in the left wing saw him evade a defender and pass the ball to no anyone in particular in the box, but Schweinsteiger pushed past a defender to nudge the ball past Rustu for an equaliser.
In the 38’, Rolfes and Hamit Altintop collided, and both players required stitches, Hamit on the head, and Rolfes on the brow. Both teams did not do any better till the 1st half end
.After the break, Loew took a huge gamble. He substituted Rolfes for injured Frings, who had injured his ribs in the match against Austria. Frings had been able to train, and had an extra covering which included carbon fibres to keep him going.
Both teams started attacking incessantly, but Germany was back on their feet. They got the lead through Klose in the 79th minute. But Turkey was not done yet. A lapse in concentration off the right wing where Sabri, who nearly gave Germany a penalty with a challenge on Lahm, dodged a defender and passed to Semih Senturk, who touched the ball and surprisingly, it went through Lehmann’s legs for a second goal.
Lehmann seemed to be dreaming that the ball would come to him, saw the ball going past him as the stadiu
m erupted once again.Just when the match was poised to go to extra time, a touch of brilliance was seen. Hitzelsperger had squandered many chances, hitting either over or on the wrong side of the crossbar. When Lahm tricked past the left wing defence, he passed to Hitzelsperger who passed past three defenders to Lahm into the penalty box. He beat the offside trap to take Turkey by surprise and smashed the ball over Rustu to give Germany the winner.
Germany, though pathetic in the first half, came back in the second half and showed their winning and never say die mentality to reach their 5th final. Meanwhile Turkey can bow out in pride, that they played equal to Portugal is a testimony that there is really a change in the blowing of winds.
Germany will now face either Russia or Spain.
Today’s fixture: Spain versus Russia (0015 Indian Standard Time)
Highlights!! Compiled by blizzard!!
Ugur Boral, 22nd minute, 0-1
Bastian Schweinsteiger, 26th minute, 1-1
Klose, 79th minute, 2-1
Semih Sentürk, 86th minute, 2-2
Lahm, 90th minute, 3-2 + Match Highlights
1 comment:
Very good posting, my friend, very good.
Happy weekend.
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