Euro 2008: The Semi-Finals

Place your bets for the big match to come.

Yet again, it looked like Turkey was going to provide late drama in crucial games, until Germany booked their place in the 6th European Championships Final via Phillipp Lahm's injury-time winner. This fabulous encounter swayed one way and then the next throughout, first with Turkey taking the lead from Ugur Boral's finish early on.

However, Germany drew level four minutes later with Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring a carbon-copy of his goal against Portugal with a good finish from Lukas Podolski's cross. With only ten minutes left, Miroslav Klose headed in his second goal of the tournament, partly due to Rustu's insane goalkeeping; he came for the ball and missed it by a large margin.  

Then, just when it appeared the Turks had nothing left, Semih scored a scrappy goal that went through Jens Lehmann's legs. The game appeared to be going to extra-time, then Lahm, who should have had a second-half penalty, played a one-two and scored with a beautiful finish. The Turks had been out-Turked! In truth, Turkey were the better side during the game; they kept the ball, made better chances, and appeared to have more energy than the Germans. Considering Turkey’s squad was saddled with injuries and suspensions, this was incredible.

On the other hand, Germany had a fully-fit, suspension-free squad. Turkey was technically better than Germany, their play more concise, and whenever they ran at the centre-backs, they hit the panic button. It was just Germany's self-belief and will to win that won them the game in the end, something that Turkey have had in abundance so far in this tournament. Now, though, Turkey's incredible journey is over, while the Germans go on to play Spain in Sunday's final.

Guus Hiddink's miserable semi-final record (he has been a loser in major semis with Holland, South Korea and P.S.V. Eindhoven in the last ten years) continued in the tournament's second semi-final, with his Russian side hammered 3-0 by a rampant Spanish side inspired by the first half introduction of Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish were worthy winners.

All of the goals were scored in the second half, via Xavi Hernandez, David Silva and Dani Guiza. Fabregas came into the game as a 33rd minute replacement for star striker David Villa, and the game was poor until then. There were few chances, none clear-cut, until the second half, when it looked like the classic many had been predicting was turning out to be a damp squib. Spain took the lead in the first five minutes of the second period, Xavi volleying home Andres Iniesta's cross.

Russia then fell apart, completely devoid of the enthusiasm, speed and danger that they thrilled us with against Holland. Star men Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko were very poor. Perhaps they began to believe their own headlines. Arshavin in particular has been courting Barcelona. Guiza then scored a wonderful goal. He was put through one-on-one with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, took one touch, then used the outside of his right foot to hook the ball into the net. Fabregas then broke and set up Silva to score the goal that put a well-deserved gloss on the victory.

Spain has won all of their games so far; the last team to do that was France in 1984, and they went on to win the tournament, beating Spain in the final. An omen? Perhaps, but we'll know for certain on Sunday night when they square-off against Germany in the first final meeting between the sides.

By: Ciarán Leinster