Euro 2008 Day Five

[Newshound]

11 June 2008<br>
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SWITZERLAND 1 (Yakin 32)<br>
TURKEY 2 (Semih Senturk 57, Arda 92)<br>
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About quarter of an hour in it started absolutely pissing down. Having denied Ronaldo in the previous match Volkan made another fantastic save from a free kick, this time diving low to his left to parry from Barnetta. Turkey went even closer from a free kick at the other end. Benaglio tipped Nihat's devilish effort against Arda and it rebounded off a post. Senderos picked out Derdiyok with a great long pass out of defence, the striker looked miles offside, Derdiyok rounded Volkan and centred to the back post, the ball rolled to halt in the sodden turn at Yakin's feet, 1-0. Two minutes later from another attack down the left, Behrami whipped a cross to the back post where an unmarked Yakin sliced wide. Miss of the tournament.<br>
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By the time the second half kicked off the rain had relented and I assume the groundsmen managed to drain some of the surface water from the pitch. Turkey's beast of a centre back, Servet, intercepted a through pass and knocked the ball into Aurelio, he brushed aside a challenge from Fernandes and sent Arda down the left flank, Arda laid the ball to Nihat who was hugging the touchline, he whipping a fantastic cross into the box and Semih Senturk got between two defenders to head through Benaglio's hands. It would have been a great goal but for the shitty goalkeeping. A flowing move started deep in the Turkey half ended with Tuncay arching a centre to Nihat who pulled clear of his marker but just failed to make contact at the back post. At the other end the hosts blew a glorious chance to restore their lead on the break. Derdiyok, who celebrates his 20th birthday tomorrow (the 12th), lead the charge from a corner, he squared the ball to Vonlanthen who inadvertently flicked on to Yakin, Volkan spilled his powder puff shot and with the goal at his mercy Cabanas steamed in but misskicked allowing Volkan to gather. Unforgivable miss. In the 92 minute BBC's colour commentator Mark Bright was vindicated for insisting the Turks should stop attacking down the right and give more of the ball to left winger Arda. Volkan closed down Cabanas as he was about to seize on a mistake by Servet, Hamit Altintop ran the ball out of the box before drilling a crossfield pass into Semih Senturk, Senturk took the ball on his chest and laid it off to Tuncay who released Arda with a brilliant pass on the turn, Arda cut infield and beat two players before unleashing a right foot rocket which took a wicked deflection off Muller before looping over the hapless Benaglio.<br>
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The first comeback victory of the tournament and a fantastic, evenly contested match. Switzerland are out. On Sunday Turkey face the Czechs for a place in the last 8. If the match ends in a draw a penalty shoot-out will determine who qualifies. Whether that encourages both teams to play for a 0-0 remains to be seen. Volkan has been the best goalkeeper in this tournament so far. Servet is an absolute monster but, ironically, he heading is weak, not in terms of distance but placement. At 27 this would be the ideal time for a move abroad.<br>
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Attendance : 42,500<br>
Assists : Derdiyok, Nihat, n/a<br>
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CZECH REPUBLIC 1 (Sionko 17)<br>
PORTUGAL 3 (Deco 8, Ronaldo 64, Quaresma 91)<br>
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Both teams made a lively start with the Czechs showing considerably more ambition in the opening minutes than during their previous match. Deco received possession on the half way line and drove deep into the Portuguese half before laying off to Ronaldo, Ronaldo exchanged passes with Nuno Gomes, running onto the strikers flick then past Rozenhal who should have cleared but slipped, Cech rushed off his line and made a superb tackle on Ronaldo as he was about to score but his clearance broke to Deco, Cech made a great recovery and dived at his feet, getting a hand to the ball but Deco scored at the second attempt. Sionko took advantage of slack marking to head in the equaliser from Plasil corner. Cech made a nice save for the cameras, diving to parry a speculative drive from Ronaldo late in the first half.<br>
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The rubbish Nuno Gomes and Simao missed great second half chances before Ronaldo restored Portugal's lead. Galasek gave the ball away with a sloppy pass out of defence, Petit knocked it back to Ronaldo who held off two defenders before passing to Moutinho who was clobbered as he spread the play out to Deco on the right, Deco ran into the box, cut inside a defender and toe poked the ball across goal for the onrushing Ronaldo to slam first time past Cech. Sionko missed another chance to head in an equaliser from a superb Vleck cross. Portugal added an injury time third to further rub salt in the wounds with a quickly taken free kick. Deco? dropped a 30 yard pass over the Czech defence, Ronaldo ran clear and unselfishly centred for sub Quaresma to score his first goal of the tournament. That type of generosity wins Ballon D'or awards.<br>
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Portugal's defending on set pieces will have their potential opponents licking their lips.<br>
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Attendance : 30,000<br>
Assists : n/a, Plasil, Deco, Ronaldo<br>

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