Despite being depleted by injured starters EmreBelozoglu, Servet Cetin, TumerMetin, and EmreGungor, and suspensions of Goalkeeper VolkanDemirel and Mehmet Aurelio, Turkiye was able to hold Croatia to a 0-0 draw at the end of 90 minutes' regulation time.  In the first and second 15-minute periods of extra time that followed, the Turks got their second wind, while Croatia started to fizzle out.But a drastic error by substitute veteran goalkeeper RustuRecber, handedKlasnicof Croatia a goal in the 119th minute.  All seemed finished for the Turks, and with only a minute left in extra time following the Croatian goal, ESPN commentators expressed, "For Turkey, it's surely goodnight Vienna, goodnight European Championship."

 

"Turkish Delight, After All" - ESPN, Minute 120
 
But redemption was in store for goalkeeper Recber, as he quickly played a50-yardindirect kick to theCroatian penalty box.Though two Croatian defenders and Turkish defender EmreAsik went up for the header, the ball hit the back of one of the Croatian defenders and landed in front of substitute striker SemihSentur, who nailed the ball into the upper left Croatian nets from 20 yards.  Surprised ESPN commentators concluded, "Turkish Delight, after all!!"

 

Grace Under Pressure
 
Senturk's last-second equalizer led the game into a penalty shootout.  In the coin toss, Captain Recberpermitted Croatia to go first.  A shocked and demoralized Croatia entered the field, and missed the opening and most critical shot of the shootout.  21-year-old ArdaTuranstepped up and slotted with ease to make it 1-0 Turkiye.  Croatia scored its second shot, but Senturk made it 2-1. Croatia missed its third shot, asHamitAltintop continued Turkey's perfect penalties to make it 3-1.  It all came down to Croatia's third chance, but Recber redeemed himself two fold by blocking Croatia's shot and sending the Turkish Nationals into the semifinals 3-1 on penalties, and 4-2 on aggregate.

 

ESPN voted Senturk the Man of the Match, while UEFA voted Altintop the Man of the Match.

 

"Biz BizeBenzeriz" (We are like ourselves), Ataturk:
 
Turkiye's third comeback is on the pen of world soccer critics, who point out thatTurkiye's 2-1 comeback win over hosts Switzerland in the second Group A match occurred in the last three minutes of regulation time; that Turkiye's 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in the final Group A match that sent the Turks to the Euro quarterfinals occurred in the last minute of added time; and that Turkiye's determinative equalizer against Croatia in the quarterfinals occurred in the last second of added time to extra time.  How far can the Turks go?

 

To better understand the formidability of the comebacks, critics must look farther and deeper.  Turkiye came back from a 2-0 thrashing Euro 2008 opener by Portugal but succeeded to place second in Group A.  Portugal who place first, exited at the quarterfinals against Germany, while Turkiyeadvanced to the semifinals against Croatia who had beaten Germany 2-1 in Group B. 
 
Furthermore, in its Euro 2008 Group C Qualifications matches, Turkiyeplaced second behind 2004 European Champions Greece.  Greece exited Euro 2008 with no wins and only one goal.
 
Finally, many have forgotten that Turkiyeplayed the first six of its qualification matches away due to a UEFA disciplinary ruling arising from a brawl between Swiss and Turkish players in November 2005. Turkiyebeat Malta 2-0, Hungary 1-0 and Moldova 5-0 in Germany, before flying to Athens to beat Greece 4-1 and to Germany to draw 2-2 with Norway with a last-minute Altintop goal.  Having accomplished the most difficult of tasks, the Turks then drew 2-2 inMalta and lost 3-2 in Bosnia!  Worn out on the long journey away from home, for the first time in more than a year, the Turks played on their own soil and thrashed Hungary 3-0 in Istanbul in September 2007.
 
We have come full circle.  For the Turkish Nationals, it has been an uphill battle since September 2006 when they were forced to play their first away disciplinary match.  But we Turks have fought uphill for so long, we have come to perceive mountains as hills, whereas our European counterparts seem to make mountains out of molehills.  Every challenge, whether just or unjust, has only improved the Turks.  We havehad the choice to die or to fight back, and we have chosen hope and even harder work.  ESPN concluded its Turkey-Croatia quarterfinal program expressing, "We must salute the Turks -- for their strength, for their courage, and for their infatigability."
 
UEFA is asking its readership, "What is Turkey's secret to success?"

 

For the Record:
 
Euro 2008 Quarterfinal