Wednesday June 25th

Semi final

No comeback for Turkey

A brave Turkish side depleted by injuries and suspensions were given a taste of their own medicine when Germany scored a last minute winner to reach the final of Euro 2008. Germany were lucky not to go behind in the 13th minute when Ayham Akman pulled the ball back from the byline for Kazim Richards to smack the crossbar from inside the area. In the 22nd minute Kazim Richards took a swipe at a low cross, sending the ball off the crossbar into the path of Ugur who knocked the ball past the unbalanced Lehmann from 6 yards out, but the Turkish lead lasted only 4 minutes as Podolski delivered a low cross into the box which Schweinsteiger spun into the back of the net with the outside of his right foot. Lehmann was almost caught out again in the 31st minute having to backpeddle to palm over a dangerous cross from Altintop, and 3 minutes later at the other end Podolski got a free run at goal but fired over the bar. In the 38th minute Topal's fierce free-kick was fisted away by Lehmann. Germany took the lead in the 79th minute when Klose got to a cross before Rustu and headed the ball in, but with 4 minutes left Sabri's low cross was toe-poked in at the near post by Semih for what looked like the goal that would take the match to extra time. However, in the 90th minute Philipp Lahm picked up a pass in the box and fired the ball past Rustu to send Germany to the final. (Germany 3 Turkey 2)