score football magazine
Euro 2008
Austria and Switzerland
Sunday June 15th

Group A

Late Turkish delight

Turkey bounced back with two late goals against the Czech Republic to book their place in the quarter-finals. A powerful header from Jan Koller in the 34th minute beat Volkan who could only push the ball in off the bar. Koller ran towards the Turkish goal in the 61st minute but shot wide. A minute later Jaroslav Plasil slid in to connect with a cross and knock the ball past Volkan giving the Czechs breathing space. Polak could have ended the match as a contest but hit the post in the 71st minute, and 4 minutes later Turkey were back in the match when Arda Turan drove the ball low into the left corner past Petr Cech. The Czech Republic were only 3 minutes away from a win when Cech handed Turkey an equalizer, dropping a cross at the feet of Nihat who found the empty net. Two minutes later Nihat got behind the Czech defence and scored the winner with a delightful finish in off the frame of the goal. Turkey played stoppage time with Tuncay in goal after Volkan was sent off for a push on Koller. Turkey meet Croatia in the next round. (Turkey 3 Czech Republic 2)

nihat
Nihat scores after Cech blunder

Swiss end with a win

Switzerland bowed out of the competition with a win over group winners Portugal. The Portuguese started as favourites and came close in the 18th minute when a fierce free-kick from Nani was deflected onto the bar. Ricardo made a diving save in the 32nd minute to keep out a Swiss header from Derdiyok. With only the goalkeeper in sight Nani hits the outside of the post in the 53rd minute and 11 minutes later Inler strikes the Portuguese post. Derdiyok back-healed the ball into the box for Hakan Yakin to slot past Ricardo in the 71st minute and with 7 minutes left Yakin smashed the ball home from the penalty spot to give Köbi Kuhn a win in his last match as manager of Switzerland. Portugal win the group despite this result. (Switzerland 2 Portugal 0)

yakin
Hakan Yakin scores from the spot

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