The football extravanza is winding down to the last few matches after which a champion will emerge. Touted as the “Next Big Thing” after the world cup, this edition of Euro cup has been excellent. Almost 4 weeks of excellent soccer with the predictions and calculations going haywire. The great guns failing to fire at the right time and the unfancied teams putting up spirited performances and coming through.
The semis will start of with Germany taking on Turkey in the first semis followed by Russia taking on Spain in the second.
Semi Finals Game I Germany Vs. Turkey
Germany
Germany started off as pre tournament favorites. But there were times in the early stages of the tournament when they looked out of form. But they raised their game when it mattered the most and put it across Portugal and thus become the first team to qualify for the Semis.
Route to the last Four
Germany started off convincingly with a victory over Poland. Polish born striker Lukas Podolski struck twice and Germany won 2-0. But the next match against Croatia saw them go down by 2-1, with Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic scoring for the Croatians and Podolski scoring for the Germans. Bastian Schweinsteiger’s late dismissal was an added blow. The match against Austria saw Germany win by a 1-0 through a stunning free kick by Captain Micheal Ballack and finished second in the group behind Croatia.
Germany next had to face Portugal who had topped Group A in the first quarter finals. They defeated Portugal 3-2 with Schweinsteiger, Klose and Ballack scoring for them.
Semi Final Record
This will be Germany’s 6th semi final in UEFA European Championship history. Their record is good with 4 wins out of five. Their more recent last 4 encounter was in 1996 when they defeated hosts England and then went on all the way to lift the trophy. Their only loss was on home soil in 1988 when they went down to Netherlands after a late Marco Van Basten Goal. In 1980, they advanced straight to the final after winning their group.
Germanys encounter in nutshell
- 1972 Against Belgium Won 2-1
- 1976 Against Yugoslavia Won 4-2 at extra time
- 1988 Against Netherlands lost 1-2
- 1992 Against Sweden Won 3-2
- 1996 Against England won 6-5 on penalties after being tied 1-1 at extra time
Key Moment.
Schweinsteiger returning from suspension to score the opening goal against Portugal.
Key Player
Micheal Ballack, the skipper. His brilliant strike against austria ensured that Germany made it to the last eight. His goal against portugal made sure that Germany ensured themselves a semi final berth.
Injuries and Suspensions
While Germany have no player suspensions, Torsten Frings continues to be a concern with a broken rib. Per Mertesacker has recovered from cold and Macel Jansen is available again after a shoulder injury.
Shoot Out Record
Germany have won five out of six penalty shoot outs including victories at the semi final stage of Euro 96 and world cups 1982 and 1990. Their only defeat came in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final against Czechoslovakia when Antonin Panenka’s legendary chip denied them the trophy in their first ever shoot out.
Turkey
Turkey’s story so far is nothing short of a miracle. Being drawn in Group A with favourites Portugal, co-hosts Switzerland and a cultured Czech Republic team, very few would have backed them to make it past their intitial stages leave alone making it to the quarters or the semis. But Fatih Terim’s side has proved everybody wrong and has the potential to be the proverbial dark horse and cause a huge upset.
Route to the last Four
After losing their first match to Portugal 2-0, the Turkish Team have been involved in three dramatic comebacks from behind to make it to the last four. They overcame a one goal deficit against switzerland and defeated the co hosts 2-1 with Semih Senturk and Arda Turan providing the second half strikes. If that was not enough, then they turned on the heat against the Czech Republic, winning 3-2 after being two goals behind and 15 minutes of play remaining to qualify for the quarter finals. And when the entire world thought that there would be no further drama, they again turned the match on their heads against Crotia when after falling behind in the final minutes of extra time, semih scored on the last second forcing the game into penalties which they subsequently won 3-1 and booked a place in the last 4.
Semi Final Record.
This is their first semi final in this competition, though they did lose to Brazil at the same stage of 2002 FIFA world cup competition
Key moment
Undoubtedly, semih’s equlaiser as a substitute against Switzerland followed by Arda’s winner which transformed their campaign and helped them to craft more spectacular come backs against Croatia and Czech Republic later
Key Player
Though he will not play gain in the tournament due to thigh injury, it has to be Nihat Kahveci, who assumed the captaincy when Emre Belozoglu succumbed to Injury. Even though he experienced frustrating start to his Euro 2008 campaign, his goals against the Czechs in the final group proved to be decisive in providing a passage to his team in the last 8. He worked tirelessly against Croatia till the last minute when injury struck.
Injuries and Suspensions.
Turkeys semi final against Germany could prove to be a tough one as the team is facing serious problems with players suspensions and injuries.
Four players are banned: Volkan Demirel, Emre Asik, Tuncay Sanli and Arda Turan are all facing suspensions and will be missing the semi finals. Nihat has followed Emre Gungor in returning home and the injury list also includes Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin and Emre Belozoglu.
Shoot Out Record
The penalty shoot out against Croatia was their first in a major tournament.
Semi Finals Game II Russia Vs. Spain
Russia
Coach Guus Hiddink’s squad was the youngest at the tournament. After an opening 4-1 loss to Spain, no body would have given this team a remote chance of making it to the quarters. But with a lot of hard work, the players quickly lifted themselves up. They beat Greece 1-0 before overcoming sweden 2-0 and finally beating much fancied netherlands 3-1 in extra time to make it to the last 4.
Route to the last Four
Spain routed Russia 4-1 in their group D opener 4-1 with David Villa and Fernando Torres being their chief tormentors. A meeting with reigning champions Greece ended in a 1-0 victory for Russia followed by a 2-0 victory against Sweden. Against Netherlands, Russia scored a convincing 3-1 victory at extra time when the game was tied 1-1 at regular time.
Semi Final Record.
This is Russia’s first apperance in a major semi final or even a knockout phase, as an independent nation. As part of the former USSR,they were champions in 1960, and finished up as runner ups in 1964, 1972 and 1988 and finishing fourth in 1968 having lost in the last four to Italy on a coin toss, their only semi final reverse in five matches. They were also 1966 FIFA World Cup Semi finalists losing to West Germany.
Key Moment
Arshavin’s return from his 2 match suspension provided a massive boost to the Russian cause going into the must win game with Sweden
Key Player
Arshavin again. In Russia’s last 2 games against Sweden and Netherlands, he has been sensational. He scored Russia’s second goal against Sweden and also scored the third goal against netherlands. Also he was instrumental in Torbinksi scoring the second goal that put Russia into the lead after Rud Vaan Nisterlooy had equalised for the Dutch
Injuries and Suspensions
Torbinski and Defender Denis kolodin will miss the match after being booked for the second time in their quarter final match against The Netherlands.
Shoot Out Record
Russia have never taken part in a penalty shoot out at a major tournament and neither did the erstwhile USSR.
Spain
There is no greater test of managing a knockout game in modern football than outplaying World champions Italy and then winning on penalties. Spain just managed to do that and in the process silenced many critics who believed that inspite of having talent, Spain would never make it to the final stages. With Luis Aragones saying no to an extension as a national coach, this team would definitely have a point or two to prove and shake off the underacheivers tag.
Route to the Last Four.
Spain is the only team in this tournament to make it to the semis after topping their Group. All others group toppers have been eliminated. They started off with a 4-1 victory against the Russians with David Villa scoring a hattrick. The then put it across Sweden 2-1 and made it to the quarters with a game to spare. Luis Aragones then rested ten of his starting line up players and still managed to score a 2-1 comeback victory against Greece. Then against Italy, they won 4-2 on penalties with Iker Casillas being the hero.
Semi Final Record.
The game against Russia will be only their third such test at this level in 48 years. They have a perfect record though. Having beaten Hungary in 1964, the went on to win the final against USSR. They waited another 20 years to return to the last 4 before losing to hosts France. They reached the FIFA world cup semi finals in 1950 and finished Fourth. The semi finals were played uniquely as a round robin group in Brazil.
Spains encounter in nutshell
- 1964 against Hungary won 2-1 at extra time
- 1984 against Denmark won 5-4 on penalties after being tied at 1-1 at extra time.
Key Moment
Iker Casilla’s save against De rossi and Di natale in the quarter finals against Italy that allowed them to make it to the last 4
Key Player.
David Villa who is the leading goal scorer of the tournament with 4 goals. His hattrick against Russia is the only one so far in the Tournament.
Injuries and Suspensions
Carles Puyol and Santi Cazorla are nursing foot injuries and David Silva has recovered after twisting his ankle.
Shoot out Record
Three wins from Six and ironically all their defeats came in 22 june quarter finals against Belgium, England and South korea respectively.
Filed under: Euro 2008, Euro 2008 Semi Finals Lineup - Predictions, Sports , Euro 2008, germany, russia, semi final, spain, turkey
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