Turkey held their nerve in their final group game in Hamburg to beat the Czech Republic and reach the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
The Czechs knew only a win would secure them a spot in the knockouts while Turkey just needed to avoid defeat.
A red card produced by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs after 20 minutes — the quickest in Euros history — curtailed a promising start from the Czechs. And Turkey finally took advantage with a brilliant finish from captain Hakan Calhanoglu in the second half.
Tomas Soucek equalised to set up a tense finish in Hamburg, including a disallowed goal for the Czechs, but former Everton forward Cenk Tosun finished off a seven-on-four break, by just going himself and slamming in from 15 yards to seal a 2-1 win for Turkey.
Vincenzo Montella’s side go through to the last 16 where they will face Austria on July 2 in Leipzig.
Our writers, Elias Burke and Dermot Corrigan, break down the action.
Dirtiest game in Euros history?
Given the high stakes, tensions would always be elevated and tackles forceful. Still, nobody expected the dirtiest game in Euro’s history.
The action started in the 11th minute when Antonin Barak was handed a yellow card for a pull on Ferdi Kadioglu. And he was awarded a second yellow, and his marching orders, under 10 minutes later. After Salih Ozcan was booked in the 31st minute, the next card went to striker Patrik Schick, who was not even on the pitch. The Bayer Leverkusen striker was awarded a yellow for dissent and would have missed the Czech Republic’s round-of-16 game if they had qualified (he had picked up a yellow earlier in the tournament).
As it happens, that was the first of five yellows awarded to players who were not on the pitch at that time and the third of 18 overall (16 yellows and two reds). Two of those yellows were given to Turkey players for their celebrations after Tosun grabbed the winner in added time.
Kovacs handed out his second red card of the evening — this time to Czech midfielder Tomas Chory, who was involved in an on-pitch bust-up after the final whistle. The Viktoria Plzen striker entered the game in the 65th minute.
Elias Burke
Montella brings stars together
Arda Guler starting was a huge boost for Turkish fans and pundits, but also a big risk considering Montella had said this week the 19-year-old was not 100 per cent fit. Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, a contemporary of Guler in underage international teams, also returned to the XI.
Montella also pushed captain Calhanoglu — normally a holding midfielder for Inter Milan these days — into an attacking midfield role. The idea seemed to be for the team’s most talented ball players to play close together, and leave the opposition back three with no centre-forward to mark.
Once the Czechs were down to 10, there was more room for Turkey’s technicians to link up and move around. Guler was showing no signs of injury and showed up in the penalty area for an acrobatic volley which was heading goalwards before being directed away by new Girona signing Ladislav Krejci.
Yildiz showed tremendous dribbling skills to get past two Czech defenders but was then booked as his studs crashed into the third. There were signs of frustration for the Turks as they had lots of possession but no real chances against the 10 men; Guler had two efforts from long range which sailed well wide.
After the break, Yildiz was centrally involved in the goal. He danced into the box again and his venomous strike was saved, but the Czech keeper Stanek was injured in the process. The rebound fell to Calhanoglu, and the sweetness of his strike would have given Jindrich Stanek no chance, even at 100 per cent. Guler had been waiting for a cross in the centre but ran to celebrate with his captain as the ball hit the net.
Montella’s plan to put his country’s three most technical players together — the old head flanked by two emerging young stars — worked well.
Dermot Corrigan
Fastest-ever Euros red card (and it was unlucky)
The game started well for Czech Republic, who were disturbing Turkey’s midfield with a man-to-man pressing system. However, the task was made significantly harder after Antonin Barak was handed his marching orders for a second yellow card.
With little more than 10 minutes gone, referee Istvan Kovacs correctly awarded a yellow card for Barak after the left-footed central midfielder had dragged down left-back Ferdi Kadioglu, who had wriggled away from the Fiorentina midfielder.
Barak received his first yellow for this pull after 11 minutes… (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
If that meant Barak should have played it safe for the rest of the game by avoiding risky tackles, the 29-year-old must have missed the brief. After taking a smart touch away from the challenge of Turkey attacker Ismail Yuksek, Barak was quickly converged upon by two Turkey midfielders near the halfway line.
With the ball getting away from his touch and Calhanoglu breathing down his neck, Barak stuck his left foot out in a desperate attempt to take the ball before Salih Ozcan, who looked favourite to win it.
Ozcan duly got his foot there first, and Barak’s left foot missed the ball and stamped on Ozcan’s, who went down in a heap. After initially handing advantage to Turkey, Kovacs pulled play back for a foul and gave Barak his second yellow, thus reducing the Czechs to 10 men with 70 minutes of regular time remaining. It was the earliest red card in Euros history.
The previous record was held by France defender Eric Abidal, who was shown a straight red card after 24 minutes against Italy at Euro 2008.
… followed by a second yellow for this challenge after 20 minutes (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The decision split pundits and commentators, with Andros Townsend on ITV, the British broadcaster of the match, believing the second challenge did not warrant a yellow card.
“This one was even more baffling. He’s in possession of the ball; he taps it away,” said Townsend. “It’s his follow-through that catches the Turkish player. You can always slow it down and freeze-frame it, but ultimately, he’s in possession of the ball.”
Perhaps it was unlucky. Maybe it was deserved. Either way, a player of Barak’s experience should know not to take risks in midfield in a must-win game having already been booked.
Elias Burke
Chaos vs the system
Italian Montella was appointed Turkey manager last September and is still getting to know his squad, chopping and changing his line-ups from game to game. The team does not yet seem to have any set shape, which can make them entertaining to watch, and unpredictable to play against.
The big Turkish crowds so far have experienced excitement at both ends in the win over Georgia, a dull disappointment in the defeat to Portugal, and this struggle to put away the Czechs, who were down to 10 men for most of the game, until the very end.
Montella can argue that these changes have paid off, as his team have made the knockout rounds. But the rotating of players can also make it look like his team does not know each other’s games too well — as seen with the unfortunate own goal by defender Samet Akaydin against Portugal.
Changing the goalkeeper is another unusual move: versus the Czechs, the recalled Mert Gunok made two excellent stops in the first half but was then at fault when not holding a high ball before Tomas Soucek thrashed in the equaliser.
Montella passes on instruction (Photo by Ronny Hartmann / AFP)
Still, a bit of chaos seems to suit this Turkey team: Calhanoglu’s goal was a prime example, with lots of pinball and players piling into attacking positions, and the Czech defence being overwhelmed. Such moments are also hugely enjoyed by the Turkish fans in the stands, who have outnumbered their opponent’s supporters at every game so far.
The defending at the end was pretty frantic, even though the Turks had an extra man. And the Czechs were furious with a goal disallowed which would have changed things completely. But Montella’s side managed to hold out before scoring a late, late winner.
History suggests more changes are likely again for Tuesday’s last-16 game against Austria. Ralf Rangnick’s side are maybe the most system-based in the tournament, with many knowing each from clubs — including those that Ragnick himself coached at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig.
Chaos versus the system should be fun.
Dermot Corrigan
What did Ivan Hasek say?
After the match, the Czech Republic manager said: “I haven’t checked the videos on the two fouls he (Barak) committed yet, I don’t want to really say anything on I didn’t see — if you thought from the videos it was a yellow… obviously this affected the game a lot…”
“I don’t want to say that we didn’t win because of the referee. We should have beaten Georgia and then this game would have been completely different…”
What next for Czech Republic?
Saturday, September 7: Georgia (A), Nations League, 5pm BST, 12pm ET
What next for Turkey?
Tuesday, July 2: Austria (round of 16: Leipzig), 8pm BST, 3pm ET
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(Top photo: Gabriel Bouys /AFP via Getty Images)
