'Emperor's' delight as Turkey escapes

GENEVA: After his side earned a last-gasp win for the second match running by turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic, Turkey coach Fatih Terim praised his side's never-say-die attitude.

The Turks had looked dead, buried and out of Euro 2008 on 62 minutes as Czech winger Jaroslav Plasil scored his side's second goal following a first-half header from giant striker Jan Koller as the Euro 2004 semi-finalist looked safe.

But three goals in the last 15 minutes - including two by captain Nihat Kahveci in the 87th and 89th minutes - put Turkey in the quarterfinals as Group A runner-up.

"I am pleased I have a team who don't give up and play until the final whistle. We showed the world the sort of team we are," beamed Terim, who is nicknamed "The Emperor".

"In my career, I have never, ever thought of giving up on a game, no matter what the score.

"I am a person who never loses hope. I have seen many things happen in the last minutes of games, that is the beauty of football.

"I am aware of what our team can do and I think we like dramatic finishes, I just hope we can settle the game a bit earlier next time.

"The Czech Republic are a good team and we beat them for the first time ever here tonight (Sunday).

"It is never easy to be 2-0 down and it is difficult to come back from that.

"It could so easily have been my opposite number giving the winners press conference."

Galatasaray winger Arda Turan, who also scored the injury-time goal that snatched a 2-1 win over Switzerland last Wednesday, began the fight-back with a 75th-minute goal before Kahveci struck twice.

"The first goal was the turning point," said Villarreal forward Kahveci.

"That created doubts in their mind, but the feelings were enormous to know that third goal was going to take us to the quarterfinals.

"It was unbelievable."

For its quarterfinal against Group B winner Croatia in Vienna on Friday, Turkey will be without goalkeeper Volkan Demirel who earned himself a red card for pushing over Czech striker Jan Koller in the dying stages.

"We were 3-2 ahead so I didn't approve of what he did," said Terim.

"I don't know exactly what happened, but I didn't agree with it.

"I am surprised a simple push would send Koller over, but the referee took the right choice."

Terim said he wants his side to beat Croatia and then go all the way to the final in the Austrian capital on June 29.

"Croatia are a good side, they beat Germany, but we are a good team too and we will get better as each day passes," said Terim, whose side also stunned Switzerland last week 2-1 when they scored the winning goal in extra time.

"They have a young team, they play well, but as far as we are concerned we will go to Vienna and let's hope we stay there, it is winner takes all now.

"We respect all teams, but we fear no one."

Terim said his team's stunning late comeback against the Czechs was testament to their ability to fight until the end.

"I'm proud that I have players who know that the match ends with the referee's whistle," said the 54-year-old former AC Milan boss.

"We showed the whole world what kind of a team we are.

"We came here to play to the end. We're working to make that goal come true."

With the scores level on 2-2 with just over a minute remaining, the match looked set to be decided by a historic penalty shootout with both sides having identical records in the Group A table.

But Kahveci's winner sent Turkey into seventh heaven and broke Czech hearts.

"Just as we were preparing for penalty kicks I signaled to score a third goal if the chance came up and it worked," said Terim.

AFP

(China Daily 06/17/2008 page22)