| 9.09.2010 |
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IN CONSTRUCTION | |  |  |
 | |  | 3rd QF : Netherlands vs Russia |
 1 - 3 
Match decided after extra time
Goals: Van Nistelrooy 86' for NL, Pavlyuchenko 56, Torbinski 22 Ex., Arshavin 26 Ex for Ru.
Dmitri Torbinski and Andrei Arshavin struck in the last eight minutes of extra time to take Russia into the UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-finals at the expense of the Netherlands as Guus Hiddink eliminated the nation of his birth.
Russia dominance
From the off Russia never allowed Marco van Basten's previously imperious side space and attacked with vigour. Roman Pavlyuchenko's 56th-minute volley seemed to have won the game but with four minutes remaining Ruud van Nistelrooy headed an equaliser. But Russia dominated the additional half-hour and the tireless Arshavin set up substitute Torbinski to restore the advantage from close range in the 112th minute. The striker added another himself to set up a Thursday tie in Vienna with Italy or Spain, although Torbinski and Denis Kolodin will miss that match through suspension.
Robben ruled out
Having rested most of his first-choice lineup in Tuesday's win against Romania, Van Basten returned to the selection that started the impressive defeats of Italy and France, Arjen Robben's hopes scuppered by continuing groin problems. It was Russia, starting as positively as Hiddink had promised, who had the first chance when Yuri Zhirkov's free-kick forced Edwin van der Sar into a diving save and Igor Semshov then crossed from the right for Pavlyuchenko to head over. Russia's outnumbered fans made most of the early noise as the Netherlands took time to get to grips with their opponents' pressing game, although Van Nistelrooy did nearly get a decisive touch on Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick.
Kolodin denied
Suddenly the Netherlands started to produce the flowing football that lit up their group games in Berne, and their supporters responded accordingly. But if many Dutch players were fresh after sitting out the Romania game, Arshavin was also relatively rested having been suspended for the first two matches and in a solo run forced Van der Sar to save. The goalkeeper then tipped over Denis Kolodin's ferocious shot and that spell weathered, the Netherlands attacked again as Khalid Boulahrouz, whose late baby daughter was remembered by his team-mates' black armbands, sent Van Nistelrooy through for an effort that Igor Akinfeev blocked.
Pavlyuchenko finish
Russia started sharper in the second half, Arshavin nearly scoring with a swerving free-kick and a minute later Semak sent in a cross from the left that Pavlyuchenko gleefully turned in. Russia were allowing the Netherlands little of the ball and attacking at pace, Van der Sar using instinct and one hand to keep out an Aleksandr Anyukov strike. The goalkeeper also blocked when Pavlyuchenko was sent through and Torbinski was unfortunate not to turn in. It seemed the Oranje campaign was over but with four minutes left Wesley Sneijder curled in a free-kick for Van Nistelrooy to head in and force an extra half-hour.
Extra-time decisive
However Russia were unbowed, Shemskov forcing a diving stop from Van der Sar while Arshavin struck over and Pavlyuchenko's dipping shot was only kept out by the crossbar. Arshavin burst through and crossed for Torbinski, only for Van der Sar to again block. The second extra period continued in the same vein, Pavlyuchenko just failing to turn in Arshavin's cross, and finally the breakthrough came when the No10 sent over another looping centre for Torbinski to volley in. Four minutes later Arshavin sealed a semi-final place with the goal his play deserved as his shot deflected in off John Heitinga, confirming that the Netherlands would follow fellow group winners Portugal and Croatia home.
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| | | 2nd QF : Croatia vs Turkey |
 1 - 1 
Turkey (1-3) win on penalties
Turkey made it through to their first UEFA European Championship semi-final at Croatia's expense after a thrilling match in Vienna was decided on penalties after the two sides had swapped goals in the final moments of extra time.
Sensational comeback
When Ivan Klasnić headed in Luka Modrić's cross with a minute of the overtime period to play, Croatia looked to have booked their place in Wednesday's semi-final against Germany. However, for the third game running, Turkey sensationally hit back at the death to force the first shoot-out of these finals when Semih Şentürk drove in, with the aid of a deflection, from just inside the area. They went on to win 3-1 on penalties after Rüştü Reçber saved Mladen Petrić's kick following earlier misses from Modrić and Ivan Rakitić. Turkey coach Fatih Terim, though, will struggle to get a team together to play Germany with Emre Aşık, Tuncay Şanlı and Arda Turan all suspended along with Volkan Demirel after being booked here.
Nervy start
Terim, without the banned Volkan Demirel and Mehmet Aurélio and with injuries also taking their toll, made four changes from the side that defeated the Czech Republic dramatically to reach the quarter-finals. The 35-year-old Rüştü, who had played against Croatia coach Slaven Bilić at EURO '96™, started in goal, while Bilić reverted to the team that had beaten Germany en route to topping Group B. With so much at stake, both sets of players made nervy starts. On five minutes Turkey right-back Sabri Sarıoğlu's misplaced pass allowed Rakitić to dart to the byline and he pulled the ball back for Darijo Srna whose shot was blocked by Hakan Balta. It was a portent of things to come as Croatia probed with success down both flanks with Terim's reshuffled back line struggling to cope with their slick passing.
Olić denied
For Turkey, Hamit Altıntop flashed an early effort wide and Robert Kovač bravely blocked his free-kick, but Bilić's men were soon in the ascendancy and should have gone ahead on 18 minutes. Croatia fans had descended on Vienna en masse during a baking hot day and they roared as one when Modrić raced clear on the right. His low centre singled out Ivica Olić who crashed a shot off the crossbar before Niko Kranjčar headed the rebound over. Just as against Austria, however, Croatia lost their way when it looked like they were ready to take a stranglehold on proceedings. Turkey began to enjoy more of the possession and though chances were few, Mehmet Topal drew a gasp from the crowd with a 30-metre drive that whistled just wide.
Rüştü saves
The traffic was soon flowing back towards Rüştü, with Croatia almost given a goal four minutes after the restart. Gökhan Zan's weak header let Olić in and the veteran goalkeeper had to race off his line to get a finger to the striker's headed attempt. Rüştü saved from Kranjčar moments later and then, on 70 minutes, Rakitić fired over after a neat one-two with Olić had given him a clear sight of goal inside the box. Knowing their side's propensity for late goals Turkey supporters grew in confidence as extra time loomed. But as the clocked ticked down Croatia again came close, Rüştü brilliantly tipping away Srna's curling free-kick on 83 minutes, then blocking from Olić.
Incredible climax
Having taken the match to added time, Turkey started to show more adventure. Stipe Pletikosa did well to parry after Emre Aşık had skipped through the Croatia defence and the goalkeeper was then grateful to see Tuncay's drive flash wide on 102 minutes. In an incredible climax, Klasnić would head Croatia in front in the final minute – Modrić capitalising on an error by Rüştü to provide the assist – only for Semih to hit back with the last kick of the game. His deflected strike flew past Pletikosa, leaving it to a shoot-out to finally tilt the balance in Turkey's favour.
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| | | 1st Q F : Germany - Portugal |
 3 - 2 
Goals from : Schweinsteiger 22, Klose 26, Ballack 61 for Germany, Nuno Gomes 40, Hélder Postiga 87 for Portugal
Germany progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship for the first time since 1996 as goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack secured a 3-2 victory over Portugal in Basel.
Heads, you win
The Mannschaft ended up lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy that year and the way they raised their game to meet the challenge of a Portugal side that refused to lie down, halving a two-goal deficit twice through first Nuno Gomes and then, in the dying minutes, Hélder Postiga, augurs well for Joachim Löw's team. By contrast, it was a night when the worst fears of Portugal's Chelsea FC-bound coach Luiz Felipe Scolari were realised, his pre-match nightmares about Germany's aerial superiority materialising in the form of headed goals by Klose and Ballack. Semi-finalists in 2000 and runners-up in 2004, Scolari had hoped to take that final step at UEFA EURO 2008™ but his farewell party fell flat at St. Jakob-Park where Portugal were overpowered by opponents who shrugged aside impressively their occasional first-stage torpor.
Debt paid
With Simão probing down the right, Scolari's men appeared to have found their stride first and offered the first threat on goal when Bosingwa crossed and João Moutinho, free of his marker but seemingly caught in two minds, steered the ball over at the near post with his knee. Yet in the 22nd minute they fell behind. It was a wonderfully worked goal too, swift passing between Philipp Lahm, Ballack and Lukas Podolski advancing the ball down the left, with Podolski bursting clear to drive in a low cross which Schweinsteiger converted with a sliding finish. Schweinsteiger's coach Löw had told the midfielder he had a "debt" to his team-mates after his red card against Croatia and here, in his first start of the finals, he resembled a man on a mission.
Scoring feat
Scorer of two goals against Portugal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Schweinsteiger was the architect of their second here too, drifting a free-kick into the Portugal box which Klose, ghosting clear of the red shirts, headed past Ricardo. Raul Meireles replaced the injured Moutinho and Portugal went in search of a lifeline. It came via captain Nuno Gomes five minutes before the break. Simão's crossfield ball sent Ronaldo racing clear of Per Mertesacker down the inside-left channel and though Jens Lehmann blocked his shot, Gomes was first to the rebound, striking first time into the net via the foot of Christoph Metzelder, defending desperately on the line. It was Gomes's sixth goal on the European stage over three tournaments – a scoring span only achieved by Jürgen Klinsmann, Thierry Henry and Vladimír Šmicer before him.
Tense finish
Ronaldo was a whisker away from an equaliser moments before half-time, flashing the ball past Lehmann yet just wide of the far post. Deco did find the net shortly after the interval but was in an offside position and the little midfielder then flicked on a Simão corner to set up Pepe, only for the defender to nod over. Ballack showed him how it should be done in the 61st minute when he shrugged off Chelsea FC team-mate Paulo Ferreira and beat Ricardo to another Schweinsteiger free-kick to head home. Scolari sent on Nani and Postiga as Portugal chased the game and the pair combined to ensure a nervy finale when Postiga headed in from Nani's left-wing delivery but the glimmer of hope was soon extinguished.
More Euro Cup news here ...
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| | | Final stands and Quarters | 
QUARTERS
19/06/2008 20:45  Portugal -  Deutchland
20/06/2008 20:45  Croatia -  Turkey
21/06/2008 20:45  Netherlands -  Russia
22/06/2008 20:45  Spain -  Italy
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France say bye bye to Euro Cup 2008 ... | Yeah after France have been eliminated from this Euro Cup, i guess the bus driver was still under pressure when he wanted to drive away from the stadium, and beeing under pressure does mean he wasn't able to do the normal things to drive out his bus from the parking, let's see how he finally managed to sort the situation ...
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Happy Birthday to ME ... | June 1st was my B.day, as i was on Holiday i guess no one thought about wishing to me, so i'm just repairing right now what u missed, by wishing to myself a Happy birthday ...
... Nico ...
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