Euro 2008: Germany-Turkey, Running Commentary

It's Euro 2008 semifinals No. 1, Germany against 11 Turks brought in off the street. Can't wait to see how this one turns out.

• God Bless Andy Gray. Fahti is on "extra time" Perfect.
• Hmm, the Turks are loose, the Germans on their heels and a little tight. Can you tell I'm rooting for the upset here?
  
• Colin Kazim-Richards is a pain in the ass early, and three Turk rushes have been promising, especially the latest one at 8 mins. German defense afraid to mess up.
• The Turks hit the bar at 13. The German back four have a great seat for this game because they're doing a lot of sitting and watching. Kazim hits the bar. Wow.
• Gray-ism No. 2 "The bar isn't the only thing that's rattled. The Germans are too."
• Anyone seen Eva Longoria? This is some Desperate Defending from the boys in white.
• Hate to see Turkey give one up against the run of play. Happens a lot. Although, you'd think it would be Turkey playing the counterattacks.
• Corner at 18, first test of Turk defense against German height. Poorly taken by Germany.
• Buddy of mine is at a German bar in Lebanon, N.H. -- don't ask -- "These guys are losing their minds." Sums it up nicely, I'd say.
• Gray-ism No. 3: "If I'm Fahti Teram, first job accomplished. 20 minutes and I'm in this match."
• GOALLLLLLLLLL 21 minutes -- Sloppy defense finally does in the Germans. Lehman just LOST. Ball is looped off the bar and rebounds to Burol. WOW
• Report from N.H. "Dead Silence."
• GOAL. Germans tie it up at 26. Schweinsteiger converts a Podbolski cross, a great bang-bang play against the run of momentum and quickly it's 1-1. Curious now to see how Turkey responds.
• Say this for Turkey, they're creative. I just wonder how long before fitness becomes an issue in this match and the Germans' real advantage surfaces.
• The Germans continue to do a lot of standing and watching in very inopportune moments.
• Altintop delivers a great free kick; probably intended as a pass but hit too well. Lehman stretches for the punch over the ball.
• Someone check the German team bus. Anyone find some collective heart?
• Nine shots from Turkey. This has been a fast first half hour.
• Podolski blows a breakaway. Gray is right; he should have made the Turk keeper eat that one.
  
• Ballack has been strangely quiet for Germany.
• 37 minutes, dangerous foul and free kick for Turkey.
  
• Kazim again in the middle of the fray for the upstarts.
• Fine save from Lehman. Boral hooked it right at the keeper who punched it out. Can't these guys catch?
• Gray-ism No. 4: "That's not the most convincing of punches."
• First blood: Simon Rolfes. Amazing how thin the skin is around the eye. Ugh, they're using a staple gun on teh field to stitch him up.
• 41 minutes: Turkey blows a 1-2 in the box. Altintop!!
• Sabri threatens with a bomb, a meter too high. Turkey has another goal in them.
  
• So. Great underdog stories? Hoosiers. 1980 U.S. hockey team. Chico's Bail Bonds. 2004 Sox.
  
• HALFTIME. 1-1

Second half begins as I try to come up with other great underdogs, such as Barnsley in the FA Cup and Greece (Euro 2004).

• Gray-ism No. 5: "Can the Turks play any better? I'd say they were pretty much at maximum in the first half."
• How long was the ref going to allow Lahm to drag Altintop there at 49.
• A lot of long through-balls from Turkey. What do they see in the German back line?
• Wow. Klose was taken down in the box. A gift for the Turks. That should have been a penalty.
• Controversial moment for sure. We'll see how it plays out once the final whistle blows. The Germans may need that one.
• 53 mins. Definite physical tone has taken over the game. Definite advantage Germany there.
• Not only do they wear down the Turks, but slow the game down to a crawl.
• German passing is fantastic right now. Hitzlesperger should have done better with his shot after a tremendous sequence.
  
• 57 mins. Ballack fouled. Dangerous free kick for Germany.
• Momentum has totally shifted; a little muscle goes a long way.
• Ballack blows the free kick.
• ESPN has lost its feed from the game. WTF.
• Holy crap, now I gotta look at Tommy Onion Bags and Julie TeaBag Foudy. Wow, I didn't sign up for this.
• 65 minutes and ESPN is back. A bolt of lightning takes out the TV signal worldwide. Interesting.
• Great run from Sabri at 68
• Boral has been outstanding on the left for Turkey. Scored a goal, won a couple of corners, sweet free kick.
• Is it me, or has the ref changed his tone too? Calling it tighter, especially against Turkey. Kazim foul in particular at 70. He blew the PK against Germany, gotta make up for it.
• 20 minutes to go, and it's 1-1. I got my wish so far.
• AGAIN?? Where's my game??
• By the looks of the Fan Zone, Germany has scored.
• GOALLLLL Klose puts the Germans up 2-1. Tired Turkey? Good thing it's not Thanksgiving.
  
• This is a travesty for ESPN et. al. A nightmare. They missed a goal, likely the game-winner. God forbid, for their sakes, Turkey doesn't score in the final minute to tie it and ESPN is dark.
• No amount of makeup covers up that mole on Julie Foudy's eyebrow, especially in HD.
  
• Hideous defense on the Klose goal.
  
• Turkey ties it!!!!
• Sabri starts it again! Great look through the box to Semhi who tips it home 2-2 with 5 to play. Where was Lahm again on that one? He sets up Klose's goal and loses Semhi to give that one up. WOW.
• This hasn't been the prettiest game, but it's been good on drama and goals. WOW
• GOALLLLLLLLLLLL Germany. 3-2. Lahm.
• A great give-and-go, the lone Turk fullback not knowing whether to stick with Schweinsteiger or Lahm chose incorrectly. Amazing.
• ESPN loses its feed again! 3-2 in injury time.
• Gray-ism No. 6: "This tournament should have come with a health warning."
• That's a great way to end this running commentary. A classic game.
  

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