Minute by Minute: Switzerland - Turkey

Soccerway - 11 June 2008 20:24

Switzerland will need Tranquillo Barnetta in a big way

BASEL, Jun 11 (SW) - It's crunch time now in Group A of Euro 2008 as Switzerland and Turkey will desperately be looking for three points as they square off in Basel at St. Jakob Park.

Final score: <b>1-2</b>

More match information: <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/match/european-championships/switzerland/turkey/529751/">Here</a>.

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FULL-TIME: The final whistle goes and Switzerland are eliminated from Euro 2008. A disastrous finish for the co-hosts but a thrilling come-from-behind victory by the Turks who were the better side in the second half. It looked as if it was headed for a draw, but Turkish phenom Arda Turan grabbed the winner at the death to keep Turkey right in the thick of things in Group A. A gritty performance from Fatih Terim's men.

Minute 90+3: <b> GOAL TURKEY (1-2) ARDA TURAN</b> scores a dramatic goal and it's elation for Turkey and heartbreak for Switzerland. A counterattack by Turan as he cuts inside two defenders at the top of the area, and his right-footed effort deflects off a Swiss defender into the net.

Minute 90+2: Asik is back on with his head wrapped, and the ball bounces into the Turkish area, but Volkan knocks it away.

Minute 90: The fourth official indicates four minutes will be added, but there could be more with Asik's injury taking extra time.

Minute 90: Emre Asik has a bad cut, but rather than walk off the pitch as he appeared to be doing, he drops to his knees while still on the field of play, angering the Swiss.

Minute 89: Switzerland are the better side at the moment, but time is ticking away.

Minute 85: Kazim Kazim comes on for Nihat as Turkey make their final change and Switzerland also make their last switch with Daniel Gygax on for Yakin.

Minute 84: Glorious chance for Switzerland on the counter, but Volkan stops them twice. Derdiyok lays it back for Yakin, but his shot is stopped by Volkan, and he has to be alert to stop the rebound from inches away.

Minute 81: Getting into the final stages here and both sides are going after the second goal, which would likely be the winner.

Minute 76: Ricardo Cabañas comes on for Switzerland in place of Fernandes. The Swiss are clearly in this to win it.

Minute 74: So nearly the go-ahead for Turkey. Arda Turan plays it into the run of Tuncay on the right side. Tuncay then crosses into the six-yard box for Nihat, but it's just slightly out of his reach.

Minute 71: Inler takes a whack at one from 30 yards out, but it's deflected out off the leg of Derdiyok for a goal kick.

Minute 67: Nihat appeals for handball as his shot goes off the arm of Philippe Senderos, but it's doubtful he knew much about it as his arms were clasped behind his back, attempting to avoid such a call.

Minute 66: First switch for Switzerland as Barnetta will go off for Johan Vonlanthen. Vonlanthen scored for the Swiss at age 18 in Euro 2004, can he do it for them again?

Minute 64: The ball deflects to the top of the Swiss area where Tuncay gets a boot onto it, but not much of one as the weak shot goes wide.

Minute 64: Nice service into the area by Inler, but Turkey goalkeeper Volkan leaps out to grab it.

Minute 63: 27 minutes before the end and this match is setup for something wonderful. Which side will make the breakthrough?

Minute 61: From the next corner, Magnin has a go from 30 yards, but it curls wide of the near post.

Minute 60: Tempers flaring now as Michel orders a corner re-taken after pushing in the area. The set-piece from Switzerland, though, is punched away twice by Volkan before Gelson Fernandes has a shot from distance deflected out.

Minute 59: Balta earlier had to leave because of a cut on his left ear, and he's having to go off again with the same problem.

Minute 57: <b>GOAL TURKEY (1-1) SEMIH SENTÜRK</b> puts a powerful header onto a cross from the left by Nihat, and Benaglio can only put a hand onto it before it hits the top corner. The rain stopped, and the Turks' passing leads to the equalizer.

Minute 55: First booking for Switzerland with Derdiyok being cautioned after sliding in studs up on Hamit Altintop.

Minute 53: Goal, but no goal. Semih is offside as he tries to get in behind the Swiss defense.

Minute 49: Nice run down the right by Behrami ends with a sliding cross toward the center, but Volkan gathers and clears.

Minute 48: Handball in the Swiss area, but it's the hand of a Turkish player - Hakan Balta - and he is cautioned.

Minute 46: Turkey have made it into the Swiss penalty area twice in 30 seconds early here and have won a corner kick, but it's cleared away at the near post by Patrick Müller.

Minute 46: The players are back with longer studs on their boots to help counter the wet pitch and Turkey will make two switches to start the half. Semih Sentürk is in for Karadeniz and Mehmet Topal comes on for Tümer Metin.

HALF-TIME: Well, Turkey started the better of the sides, but the Swiss made the breakthrough on the Yakin goal. The rain has certainly affected the play, but hopefully it will disappear before long.

Minute 43: The action is going to become very compact as passes along the ground will only go so far before stopping in its tracks in the standing water. The players will certainly be changing boots at the break.

Minute 41: Everyone seems unsure of themselves on this soaking wet pitch, but not Michel as he books Mehmet Aurélio for a tackle on Behrami. Second caution for Turkey.

Minute 34: And as quickly as it was one, it should have been two. Behrami crosses in from the right and it goes clear across the face of goal past the Turkish defenders to Yakin, but he makes a mess of it and misses the target.

Minute 32: <b>GOAL SWITZERLAND (1-0) HAKAN YAKIN</b> opens the Swiss account! Long ball over the top finds Derdiyok who stayed onside past slack Turkish defending. He slides it into the six-yard box where it comes to a stop in the water, just in time for Yakin to slot home.

Minute 31: Late challenge by Tuncay Sanli on Inler earns him the first booking of the match.

Minute 29: Free kick now for Turkey just between the edge of the area and the end line. And Nihat's effort is deflected out by Benaglio and onto the head of Turan onto the post. Tough break there for Turkey.

Minute 26: Next corner for Switzerland...very low by Yakin and never gets off the ground much. Chalk that one up to poor footing in the rain-soaked pitch.

Minute 25: Barnetta's free kick is driven in well, and Volkan has to touch it behind for a corner.

Minute 24: Low drive in by Tranquillo Barnetta is parried out for a corner by Volkan. The corner is cleared out to the edge of the area, and a dangerous free kick is conceded as Karadeniz hammers Magnin. Best spell so far for Switzerland.

Minute 19: First shot on target as Gökhan Inler fires from distance for Switzerland, but Volkan Demirel gathers the wet ball. Those low shots off the ground will be incredibly dangerous for the goalkeepers in these conditions.

Minute 15: Most of the possession in the first quarter-hour has belonged to the Turks, but Switzerland might be starting to gain their footing here as Turan fouls Valon Behrami and the ensuing free kick causes havoc in the Turkish penalty area. No goal, however.

Minute 13: Rain starting to pour down in Basel and fans are reaching for their rain gear, but don't expect any to head for the exits. Too much riding on this game to abandon their teams.

Minute 9: Dangerous-looking cross from the right by Arda Turan, but Diego Benaglio catches.

Minute 7: Karadeniz makes a run into the area, but he's just slightly offside.

Minute 4: Two deputy captains in this match actually. Ludovic Magnin for Switzerland in place of Alex Frei and Nihat for Turkey in place of Emre Belözoglu.

Minute 2: Early corner kick for Turkey, but deputy captain Nihat Kahveci's inswinger is no threat to the Swiss goal.

Minute 1: Lubos Michel is officiating his first match since the Champions League final, and his whistle gets us underway in Basel!

Pre-Game: This is the first match between these two nations since the "Istan-brawl", a fight that occurred after Switzerland defeated Turkey in a World Cup 2006 qualifying playoff. We'll see if any bad blood remains. Anthems are being played now - Turkey first, then Switzerland.

Pre-Game: For those wondering why Streller isn't even on the team list of players available for today's match, he is sidelined with a groin injury. Switzerland will be very slim in attack, meaning Yakin and Derdiyok will likely need to go 90 minutes in this one.

Pre-Game: Two changes for Köbi Kuhn and Switzerland as Hakan Yakin and Eren Derdiyok will go from the start in place of Alexander Frei (who is out for the rest of the tournament) and Marco Streller. Turkey make several changes from the squad that lost to Portugal. Gökhan Zan, Emre Belözoglu, Kazim Kazim, and Mevlüt Erdinç are relegated to the bench with Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Tümer Metin, Arda Turan, and Emre Asik coming into Fatih Terim's side.

Pre-Game: It's a must-win situation for co-hosts Switzerland here tonight. Portugal's 3-1 win over the Czech Republic means the Swiss must grab three points from Turkey or they will be eliminated. Turkey aren't in much better shape, and they will be looking for three points as well. Portugal clinch a berth in the quarterfinals with any result but a Swiss victory.