Euro 2008: Turkey 2:3 Germany

Well, I was wrong about the score, but I was right about the Turks.  Man, they are tough. I underestimated the sheer will of the Turkish second string -- mostly guys from the great Turkish clubs like Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahce. They were playing with only three or four of their starters, and yet they managed to score two excellent goals against Germany.

Turkey came out and really took it to the Germans, who seemed listless for the first 20 minutes. Altintop showed great initiative, and Turkey looked dangerous around Germany's goal -- particularly when Kasim hit the crossbar.  The goal in the 22nd minute was kind of flukey, but it came off a well-executed throw in and cross.  Germany came quickly back and scored within 5 minutes.  Then, with 11 minutes to go, and the international video feed down, Klose got in front of the Turkish keeper and headed in what looked like a sure winner.  But of course Turkey came back and Semih scored a terrific redirect past Lehmann at the near post. 2-2 with about 5 minutes to go -- it had to be extra time.

But Germany had a little magic left -- a fantastic bit of skill on a one-two that released Lahm on the left side of the goal, and he finished like a striker, into the top corner.  Over, fittingly, in the 90th minute.

Major props to Turkey. What a performance.  They are clearly on the international stage to stay.  Germany won, but they looked beatable: shaky under pressure around their goal, unable to maintain possession in midfield, and reliant on counter-attacking against a depleted and stretched Turkish defense.  May work against Russia, but probably not as well against Spain.