Nobody does late dramas quite like the Turks. After their injury-time winner against Switzerland and two goals in the final four minutes against the Czech Republic, it looked like Turkey were on the way out when Croatia's Ivan Klasnic ended 119 minutes of stalemate with a close-range header. But in a quite remarkable finale, a long clearance from goalkeeper Rustu broke to Semih who rattled it high into the net to set up the first penalty shoot-out of the competition.
Having come back from the dead now on three occasions - the stats say they have been in front for just 2 minutes of the 375 minutes they have played - Turkey have to feel they are well nigh invincible and they gave that impression with the confident way they tucked away their spot-kicks. Croatia, on the other hand, were shattered to have victory snatched from them so cruelly and, when a great wee player like Luka Modric doesn't even hit the target from the penalty spot, you just knew they'd shot their bolt.
Slaven Bilic will spend the entire summer trying to figure out how his team lost this one. They were on top right from the start and would surely have gone on to win comfortably if Ivica Olic had not missed an early chance. Modric got a low cross over from the right and all Olic had to do was side-foot it into the net from six yeards. Instead, he tried to burst the net, his shot smashed against the crossbar, the rebound came back so fast Niko Kranjcar was unable to get in a clean header and the ball flashed wide.
It was to be the first of a number of opportunities which fell Olic's way but, with his Christian Vieri head on, he couldn't score in a barrel of Shereen Nanjianis. And it was one of those nights when every promising situation Croatia created seemed to fall to him. I was screeming at Bilic to give him the hook long before he finally took the hint in the ninth minute of extra-time. By then, the prospect of penalties will have crossed the manager's mind and there is no way he could justify letting Olic loose in such a vital situation.
Throughout it all the Turks were quite happy to back off, then try to do a bit of damage on the break but for so much of the night it looked like they were playing a very dangerous game and were sure to be caught out at some point. Facing a sharper striker than Olic, they would have been, of that I have no doubt, and having heard so much about Nikola Kalinic in the build-up to the tournament, I was surprised Bilic didn't give him his chance, especially when his first-pick striker was so clearly out of touch.
Suspensions and injuries had forced the Turks into a number of changes and the sight of Rustu between the posts, in place of that eejit Volkan who needlessly got himself sent off in the dying seconds against the Czechs, brought back a few memories. FFers who remember my World Cup Diary of 2002 might recall that I picked him in my team of the tournament (Turkey finished third). That got me a few growls in the pub where it was pointed out that he was the Fenerbahce keeper who'd got Michael Mols sent off in a Champions League qualifier a season or two earlier. Mols was subsequently suspended and we didn't make it on to the big stage that year. All Rustu's fault!
He was all over the place in the early stages as Croatia piled on the pressure and was involved in a comical second half incident with Olic when the pair went for the ball, neither showed any conviction, neither got it and it bobbled about in front of the goal for a few seconds before somebody hoofed it clear, but he did manage to make a couple of useful stops in the latter part of the game. He's a big big guy and I wondered about how imposing he would look to those facing him if it came down to pens. I was still turning things over in my mind as extra-time drew to a close when he had a brainstorm, went rushing out to collect a ball he had no chance of getting, letting Modric send over a cross which Klasnic headed home.
Believe it or not, I actually felt a wee bit sorry for the Turks who had started to make a game of it. It looked like Fatih Terim had sent his team out to keep things tight for the first 75/80 minutes, then go for it right at the end. Well, it had worked for them in the past! They certainly gave as good as they got in those final ten minutes and might even have been the better team in the extra half-hour. Obviously they are not the sort of side to entertain any defeatist thoughts.
Everybody thought it was all over, Croatia's defenders certainly gave that impression as they jumped half-heartedly for Rustu's long free-kick and Semih was in acres of space as the ball fell to him 14 yards out. Bang! Penalties here we come! Croatia were out on their feet, Modric shot wide, Arda scored, Srna levelled things, Semih restored the Turks' lead, Rakitic also shot wide and Hamit Alkintop made it 3-1, meaning Petric had to score to keep the thing alive. Rustu saved and that was that.
Turkish celebrations will have been matched only by those in Germany where, having feared a rematch with Croatia, they now face a Turkish team which will be further depleated by suspension. Of the team which beat Croatia, bookings for Tuncay, Arda and Emre Asik mean they will miss the semi-final and, having got such a great lift from beating Portugal, the Germans will surely fancy their chances.
I understand my big pal The Koelsch is planning to have a wee barbeque on Wednesday night, although he has stressed that it will be a quiet affair. If Germany win and he and his mates celebrate too loudly, it might annoy a few locals.
LITTLE BOY BLUE