Turkey overcame stiff resistance from 10-man Czech Republic in a 2-1 win on Wednesday (June 26) with goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Cenk Tosun to set up a Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Austria and send their opponents home.
The Czechs, quarter-finalists at the last tournament, needed victory to stand any chance of advancing, but the 20th-minute dismissal of midfielder Antonin Barak for a harsh second yellow card hit them hard.
Coach Vincenzo Montella said he was extremely happy for achieving a “historic qualification” with a very young squad, adding the team could have avoid suffering until the last episode of the match by taking advantage of having one more player.
In a chaotic end to the game, Czech Republic’s Tomas Chory was also given a red card in a melee at the final whistle.
Czech coach Ivan Hasek said he was disappointed for the result but wouldn’t blame the referee’s decision to send off Antonin Barak.
The referee showed 18 cards in total, two red and 16 yellow, to set a new Euros record.
Both teams pressed hard from the start in a raucous atmosphere on a hot night, Turkish fans marching to the game and outnumbering the Czechs thanks to their huge diaspora in Germany.
Thirty-year-old playmaker Calhanoglu’s 50th-minute goal was a first at his third Euros, triggering flares and delirium from fans. He scored with a low shot across goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek who appeared to hurt his shoulder with a save just before and went off injured after the goal.
Teenager Arda Guler inexplicably missed a close-range sitter to put Turkey two ahead and the Czechs immediately equalised, Tomas Soucek prodding home in the 66th minute after a long throw caused chaos to set up a thrilling finale.
Tosun struck Turkey’s winner in stoppage time, sparking wild scenes on his bench and among Turkish fans. The result banished the Turks’ dark memories of Euro 2020 where they went home after conceding eight goals in three defeats.
Turkey finished second behind Portugal in Group F and will play Austria in the last 16 on July 2 in Leipzig.
(Reuters)