Despite starting slowly, it seemed Turkey and Russia had learnt the art of timing from their Swiss hosts. But after three weeks in the Alps, the two losing semi-finalists now fly home with the realization that they peaked too soon.
For the Turks, another thrilling comeback win seemed on the cards when the “lifeguard,” Semih Şentürk performed his customary heroics in the 86th minute. Alas, the recovery came too soon.
Against the Czech Republic and Croatia, Turkey’s vital goals were knockout blows, delivered as the last murmurs of life drained from normal and extra time. In the semi-final, they struck prematurely.
Not only did they have the audacity to take the lead against Germany, but when Miroslav Klose nodded the favorites ahead 11 minutes from time, Turkey’s response left the Germans a full four minutes plus injury time to find a winner.
Philipp Lahm duly obliged with a goal fit to win any game, even if the result was harsh on the spirited Turks. With only 14 players fit and available, Fatih Terim saw his makeshift side seize the initiative against a full-strength but tentative German team.
Unsurprisingly, the German response came from yet another incisive Podolski-Schweinsteiger break. The sparkling collaborations between the two friends will be one the enduring memories of the tournament.
The match flowed back and forth until Klose snatched the lead with his second goal of the tournament. When Şentürk leveled things up seven minutes later, extra-time loomed large and the flares were ignited in Istanbul’s Taksim Sqaure.
Back in Basel, the city’s “Fan Zone” became the unsuspecting center of attention as the international live feed from St. Jakob’s Park failed – the crowd’s reaction to their uninterrupted pictures provided ESPN’s audience with their only gauge for the continuing on-field events.
Lightning in Vienna, where UEFA’s media operation is housed, was to blame for the disruption and it meant that millions of worldwide viewers missed the majority of the climactic action.
After much frustration, the pictures resumed long enough to see Lahm’s winning goal. It was a sucker-punch from which even the Houdini-like Turks could not recover. After two “miracles” brought them this far, lightning struck for a third time, but this time in Vienna and not for Turkey.
The following evening, with the weather only slightly improved, the in-form Russians took on Spain for a date with Germany on Sunday.
Fresh from a stunning victory over Holland, Arshavin, Hiddink and Co. were the talk of the town. Unfortunately for Russia, they could not repeat their quarter-final performance and fell to a Spanish side superior to them in every quarter.
Even the first-half loss of David Villa – who will now miss Sunday’s final – could not blunt Spain’s sterling play. Instead, the metronomic Xavi and Iniesta were joined by the outstanding Cesc Fabregas, and the trio carved the Russian defence to shreds. This was a Spanish victory bred in Catalonia.
In comparison, the Barcelona-hopeful Arshavin was subdued beyond recognition. His trademark energy seemed dulled by the speculation that has surrounded him after his brilliance against the Dutch. His touch frequently betrayed him but Puyol and Marchena must take great credit for the way they marshaled Russia’s no.10 and suppressed his service to Pavlyuchenko.
Still perfect, Spain now faces Germany with a chance to emulate the 1984 French side that remains the only team to run the tables at a European Championship.
Best remembered as “Platini’s tournament,” Euro ’84 was also the last time Spain appeared in a major international final. In the same period, Germany has reached five major finals – Sunday’s showdown will make it six.
So Vienna is set for a clash between the ultimate overachievers and the perennial underperformers; Teutonic industry against Latin ingenuity. Euro 2008 has the final it deserves.
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