Neither Croatia nor Turkey could crack the crease in their Euro 2008 quarter-final match, leading to two fifteen-minute overtime periods.
Turkey took offensive advantage in the first few minutes of the match, keeping the ball in the Croatian end and getting several shots on net. Turkey's team play was first ratethe passes were on-target, and the players maneuvered to create good shots.
At 12 minutes Croatian midfielder Niko Kovač fouled Turkey's star forward Nihat Kahveci at the edge of the penalty area bringing on a free kick for Turkey. Kovač redeemed himself by bravely sacrificing his body, casting himself in the path of the kick, blocking it.
At 18 minutes Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić broke free down the right side of Turkey's penalty area, then laid a perfect cross to forward Ivica Olić. Olić beat Turkish keeper Rüştü Reçber but his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out into play. Niko Kranjčar had a chance to score on the rebound but couldn't find the handle.
The game was quite physical, and the referees were kept busy. At 27 minutes, Turkey's Tuncay Şanlı received a yellow card, which would mean, with his total, that he would be forced to sit out the semi-final game should Turkey advance.
The Croatian attackers seemed to be faster than Turkey's defenders; Croatia could send long balls ahead from their own end, and beat the Turks back. Turkey managed to create opportunities with its precision passing, but couldn't finish.
With seconds left in the half, Turkish star Tuncay Şanlı took a kick in the left knee, sending him off the field. His loss would seriously imperil Turkey's chances.
No Decision in the Second Half
Three minutes in, Arda Turan was called for a yellow card, his second, which made him ineligible for the semi-final match, as well.
Neither team could dominate the other for the first twenty minutes of the second half. At the seventy-minute mark, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitić missed a point-blank shot on the Turkish net. Moments later, Rakitić set up Olić for a header form the same range. Neither ball went in, but the Croatians seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
At 82 minutes Croatia's Mladen Petrić was fouled just outside the Turkish penalty area, giving Croatia a free kick. Darijo Srna hooked a beautiful kick at the top right corner, but Turkish keeper Rüştü somehow managed to bat it away with his right hand. Neither the shot nor the save could have been executed better.
With a minute left in regulation play, Rüştü robbed Luka Modrić . Second later, Rakitić almost scored on a free kick, but Rüştü came through again. Then with only seconds left in stoppage time, Ivica Olić had another excellent opportunity, but Rüştü proved unbeatable.
Turkey, bolstered by the amazing goalkeeping of Rüştü Reçber, went to the break tied with Croatia, 00.
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