AFP
Turkey reached the knockout phase at a major tournament for the first time in 16 years after a bad-tempered 2-1 win over a battling 10-man Czech Republic at Euro 2024 on Wednesday.
Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey finished second in Group F behind Portugal to progress, as the Czechs were eliminated despite a brave performance on a welcoming night in Hamburg.
Georgia also went through as one of the best third-placed teams after a stunning 2-0 win over Portugal in the group’s other final game, eliminating Hungary.
Turkey will face Austria in the last 16 in Leipzig on Tuesday, their first major tournament knockout match since the Euro 2008 semi-finals when they were beaten by Germany.
The Czechs were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute when Antonin Barak was given the earliest red card in Euros history, beating the unwanted record set by France’s Eric Abidal in 2008.
Barak’s pair of bookings were two of 18 yellow cards shown in total, with Tomas Chory also shown red after the final whistle in ugly scenes.
Hakan Calhanoglu powered Turkey into a 51st-minute lead, but Tomas Soucek lashed in an equalizer midway through the second half.
A frantic finale to the game ensued as the Czech Republic pushed for the winner that would take them through, but Cenk Tosun ended their hopes on the counter-attack in no time.
There were ugly scenes at the final whistle as fans ran onto the pitch, with Czech forward Chory brandished a red card in the aftermath.
“We are upset, everyone wanted to advance, we had the right mindset,” said Soucek.
“It was terribly hard with ten men, we didn’t want to concede, then we did, we leveled and pushed them until the last minute but then we conceded another.”
The Czechs started strongly despite the tens of thousands of Turkey fans jeering their every touch, with Lukas Provod forcing Mert Gunok into an early save with a deflected shot.
They were especially dangerous from Vladimir Coufal’s long throw-ins, one of which Robin Hranac headed over when unmarked.
But Turkey were given a huge boost as midfielder Barak caught Salih Ozcan by the halfway line and was shown a soft second yellow card.
Key Czech striker Patrik Schick could only feature among the substitutes after picking up an injury in the draw with Georgia last week.
He was given a yellow card for protesting from the bench after Provod was felled by flying challenge.
– Tempers fray –
Turkey winger Kenan Yildiz was fortunate to stay on the pitch, only receiving a yellow for a nasty tackle on Hranac before elbowing Coufal in the face without punishment as tempers threatened to boil over.
Montella’s side were struggling to break down their opponents despite the man advantage and almost fell behind when David Jurasek was denied by Gunok after a quick counter-attack.
Knowing defeat could send them home with Georgia leading Portugal, Turkey started brightly after the break and released the pressure on themselves with a crucial opening goal.
Yildiz had a shot brilliantly saved by Jindrich Stanek, but the Czech goalkeeper suffered an arm injury making the save and as he struggled to get back into position, Calhanoglu drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Stanek was immediately replaced by substitute Matej Kovar as part of a triple change.
The Czechs came under increasing pressure as they searched for the two goals they needed to stay in the tournament and Turkish teenage star Arda Guler failed to convert from just three yards out.
But Soucek gave the Czechs hope when he fired home after Gunok lost the ball following another Coufal shot into the box.
The goal survived a lengthy VAR review for a possible foul on the embarrassed goalkeeper and a handball, before finally being awarded to set up a thrilling finale.
Ivan Hasek’s Czech Republic threw in as many players as they could, but couldn’t find a magic moment.
Instead, Turkey got them right on the break and substitute Tosun finished accurately into the far corner, before the match ended in exciting fashion.
jc/pi
© Agence France-Presse
