Penalty heartbreak for Croatia sees Turkey advance
June 21, 2008
It is always tough to lose a match following a penalty shoot-out. The players that fail to convert a penalty kick can be haunted for years to come.
In the quarterfinal match between Croatia and Turkey it was decided by a penalty shoot-out. After both teams were scoreless at the end of normal time it looked as though the entire match would not produce a goal.
Late in extra time the excitement began. First Croatia hit the front with a goal to Klasnic 29 minutes into extra time. The Croatians probably thought they had the game wrapped up. As we now know anything can happen if their is still time on the clock. Just ask the Czech Republic.
Turkey sensationally scored a goal just as the referee would have been ready to blow fulltime. This time it was Semih who scored as his deflected shot beat Pletikosa. 1-1 after extra time took the match to a penalty shoot-out.
I think tossing a coin is a fairer way to decide the match, however this is a little less dramatic when compared to the shoot-out. Just think back to the last big match occasion where a match was decided by penalties. That time around it was Manchester United who defeated Chelsea to claim the Champions League trophy. Just ask John Terry and Nicholas Anelka what they think of penalty shoot-outs.
In the Croatia-Turkey shootout is was Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric who both fired wide to give Turkey the upper hand. When Mladen Petric had his shot saved by Rustu Recber it was all over for Croatia. Turkey had pulled off another amazing fightback to move into the semifinals of Euro 2008 where they will face Germany.
For the Croatian coach Slaven Bilic he said Turkey’s dramatic comeback will “haunt me for the rest of my life”.
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