Euro 2008 semi-final: Germany vs. Turkey

It went on until at least 12:30. I don't know how long after that because I put the telly on. I guess the real question is: Why the late kick-offs? Just watching the matches must be a pain in Russia if they don't start until nearly midnight.

Links please

Jeeves. 8.45 is standard kick-off time for European matches. Unfortunately the Russians have to deal with it because, well, they ain't a part of Europe anyway. So tough shit.

You're right. It's UEFA standard. And I knew that. Boy must I have been pissed off last night. I'll try to behave on Sunday, honest.

So was there no trouble last night with fans besides a bit of noise? I wonder what the reaction of the picture going out on the transmission was in the public viewing spots?

According to the news, there was trouble in Dresden (or was it Leipzig?) where two "rechtsradikale" were arrested after attacking a Dönner shop, apparently a few people got into a scuffle with the police in Hamburg, and in Vienna a few people were slightly trampled when the storm hit.

I get quite fed up with this statement...football isn't the only sodding game in the world, and winning the Rugby world cup was much more of an achievement that that dodgy contested game back in 66.

Anyway I didn't watch it, but I did put on the telly & then sat outside reading (or trying to!) I did pop in everytime there was a very loud roar just to see who scored. I am glad Germany won and hope they win the whole tournament, I have more allegiance to Germany (just because I live here) than either Russia or Spain.

It was a fantastic game, and I think DE completely deserved that win. Schweini's touch off his outside foot for the first goal was poetry in motion. And the Turkish GK made a very stupid, fatal error running out to try and catch Klose. Amateur hour. He also was not properly position for Poldi's goal at the end, dove too soon. Anyway, I am sure he is crying now, but if the Turkish D would have done their job, it wouldn't have been so many.

Given that, Turkey had a great game, they were just outmatched in the end.

EDIT: and I am no fan of Lehmann, I think he is a totally arrogant twat, but he was incredible last night. Turkey got really a lot of shots on goal, and Lehmann had some fantastic saves.

Germany was extremely lucky to win that game. They didn't have that many real huge chances and had trouble getting past the Turkish midfield. Germany seems to play only just barely good enough to win and that showed again last night. Turkey played better for most of the match and actually should have deserved the win, but that is football. The late Lahm goal was great!

I don't know why you're commending Lehmann. That first Turkish goal was solely due to Lehmann screwing up. He was back to his normal extreme competence for most of the rest of the game though.

He went to save a ball that came off the woodwork and was caught off foot. He did not screw up im my opinion. A great game by Leheman and a great game overall to watch. Both teams played well.

Jurgi Love and his all conquering man shaft.

Sounds like a cabaret act on a gay cruise.

Great game, respect to Turkey.

Lehmann screwed up on the second Turkish goal. Big style. Kneeling there waiting for the ball to roll into his arms like a hooker's customer expecting a blow-job. Well, he surely got screwed.

I didn't wade through this whole discussion, my dos centavos: Germany gave up mid-field too easily but cleaned up its defensive act in the second half; Turkey was "giftig" (a good German word to describe their cobra-like forays towards the goal). Sabri's trick against Lahm before the second Turkish goal was enjoyment pure, impudent and effective.

Agreed. that wasn't an error, just very inelegant-looking.


That was definitely an error and underestimation on his part. He should've dived for it. But all in all, he had some great saves, and near-perfect placement the whole game. It is not as easy as it looks.

Turns out that only 3 people stayed at work for the game anyway so the crap i was given was totally unwarranted.

Why are so many of you so anti-German?? Yes, they have been more lucky than skillful in some of the games, but the same applies to other teams as well. You live in the country and loads of you are married to a German.

Probably just pure envy because none of the British teams got through...

Great game all round , Turks gave their all against a tired looking German side but Jerry did enough and as they say its goals that count .Sunday should be a great game whoever gets through tonight, and weather permitting enjoyed with beer and BBQ ooohhh yes

Lehmann was poor and he is not doing Germany's tradition for quality goalkeeping justice. A good professional goalie would have kept both of Turkey's goals out.

Hey, you don't hear me complaining about my team not competing!

@ Sarabyrd
They all look German descent anyway .. Wagner

@ osmachar

Er, no. It's because I live in Germany I don't want them to win. It's all you hear about, how they should have had a penalty at the half-way line, the referee should have sent the other player off when the German guy tripped over a blade of grass etc.

Why should I support Germany because I live here? I'm not German, I don't pretend to want citizenship. I didn't give up my identity just because I moved house. Should I have supported Scotland when I lived in Glasgow? I think not. Laughable, that argument. Similarly laughable is saying that not wanting Germany to win at football is equal to being anti-German.

Oh, and I think the assumption that it would be different if some of the home nations had qualified is also somewhat wide of the mark...

Edit: Actually, this topic should be in bluedave's 'German Euro 2008 campaign - who gives a shit' thread...

2-3 is perhaps stretching the definition of "so many" isn't it - still carry on regardless

Well, if I live in a country I do to an extent identify with it. i've lived in the UK for many years now and yes, I do support their teams as well as the German one 9unless they play against Germany of couse ). My British partner totally supports Germany because he liked living there and and likes the place (and me).

So I really don't see anything wrong with supporting the country you live in. Also you're only a certain nationality my 'chance' because you're born there and not because it's a god-given priviledge.

That last sentence is spot on.
The one before is true too: there is nothing wrong with it, but equally there should be no requirement to do so.

I don't see anything wrong with supporting the country you live in, either. However, I don't think there should be a general expectation that you MUST do so.

When Lahm got that goal I jumped up and cheered ... _{and so did my wife she's German shhhh}

Well I feel quiet priviledge about my country of birth. You forget we have a long football history of winding each other up. I'm finding it difficult to support Germany in Football, the habits of a lifetime squeeze themselves out. Thank god for Lahm though, I dont think I could handle another Extra Time and Penalty shoot out, I need my sleep.

I beg to differ...

Utah is over there...

@Guy
I was going to give you shit but then saw your edit that your pissy post should be in the who gives a shit thread. I agree.

I think anyone claiming that Germany played a better game than Turkey also believes the German team walks on water. All media outside of Germany reports what I saw as well, a depleted Turkish team outplaying a full strength German squad. Germany should be thankful they managed to pull that win out and very thankful they weren't playing a full strength Turkish team, especially their regular goalie (which I believe is why they lost). Anyway, Turkey earned my respect after their performance last night.

Although the Germans idn't perform amazingly, we all know they can despite not being the best individual players in the world they have it in them. Also, if Lehmann had stopped a couple of piss-easy balls that he let in then there would have been no Turkey heroics, just a decent win by Germany!

Quote from Metzelder:

Guy, I agree with that, too.

Russia will take this whole thing. They will out-speed Spain, and in the final they will make the motionless stick figures that comprise the German squad look like they're in mud. And with Lehman making rookie mistakes, it may be a drubbing.

I'm not a hater, though. Germany have provided two good games of late, and I wish them the best. But Russia has too much speed.

Number 12 could give me a kick in the nuts anytime.

Yeah, Russia have looked impressive since Arshavin has been playing. I think they'll have too much for the Spanish tonight. Russia vs. Germany would be a good final, could go either way, though I think Germany vs. Spain would result in the Germans winning.

Metzelder himself is the problem of the German team, along with his tag team partner Mertesacker. They're just too damn slow defending.

When the guy blew around Lahm for the second goal, both middle defenders just stood there and did nothing. Their defense is horrid.

Leky I understand that the english get fed up with that statement, but don't you think the germans get fed up with all the statements mainly the english made on here... germany with luck of the draw... the krauts this, the krauts that... and all the referenzes to the Nazis.
It is pure jealousy and not our fault that the english could not qualify once again. Good on you that you wish germany luck to win the tournament but you and osmacher are one of the few english in the world who don't have a chip on their shoulder


I could not have written a better statement... bitter, bitter bitter people


You are right, Lehmann is a threat to success. Any other goalkeeper (well maybe not Calamity James) would have kept the ball out of the net on both occasions. They should have never given him the job as number one goalie for the 2006WC and make Kahn retire.
Enke and of course the young guy Adler from Leverkusen are way better goalkeepers then the second string goalie from Arsenal who had close no expirience between the posts this season. Even Hillebrand would have been better then this old man. Lehmann will be the reason when germany loses the final...


So a knee swung in to the groin area of your opponenet with the ball far away from the action should not result in a penalty, specialy if it happend in the penalty box. And of course in your warped world this is not a red card either. Have you even seen the game? Nobody tripped over grass, Lahm got taken down with no remorse and the intent to injure the oponent. You guys were all up in arms when Schweinsteiger got sent off for a push. But god beware if it is against a german... it can't be a foul and definitly not worth a penalty. Good sportsmanship you hypocrith

osmachar is German so obviously she won't have a chip on her shoulder about the Germans

And I don't like football anyway and don't really give a toss

Yes, I am German, but I equally support the British teams because I live here and I like it in the UK and feel at home. I have a BRitish partner, who equally supports the German team.

sorry my bad... so this leaves Leky and she doesn't give a shit...

If anybody here is whinning like a jealous dog then I think it's you. You seem to forget on what forum you are, and under what circumstances people sometimes let off steam or more importantly banter about. It isn't always pretty and not always understandable, but if there is anything more annoying than a Brit still generaly comparing Germans to Nazis , it's a German complaining about it. I was quite happily supporting Germany until I read your posts. Now I feel like driving to Vienna and painting "Remember Stalingrad" on the pitch just to annoy you all. (Very presumptuous of me that Russia will win tonight I know.)

God, I really hate that expression! Whatever happened to REAL English??? FFS!!!

Germany is my home, I fully support its team and I have been genuinely happy about their success so far (last night the words "I'm so happy we won!" came out of my mouth -- scary!) I feel it's my team as much as anybody else's.

However, as an American who has never had any sort of patriotic allegiance to a national football/soccer team, I guess it's easier for me to 'adopt' Germany as my favoured team as opposed to somebody from a country with a long-standing football rivalry with Germany -- like, say, the English. I can understand why a lot of English folk would balk at backing Germany.

There it is...

The result is what matters.

Croatia were "the better team" against Turkey but lost. The Turks played as well as they were allowed to - not like Italy on Sunday. The Turks were then called "valiant, resilient and heroic" etc.

Turkey were "the better team" against Germany but lost. The Germans played as well as they were allowed to. The Germans are called "lucky".

But the sort of resilience that enables a defender to cut a Ronaldo-like 1-2 swathe through the penalty area and score a stunner when most needed ain't "luck".

If Portugal or Holland has scored three times to win highly exciting quarter semi-finals - and scored the sort of goals they did - the press and public would have been praising them to the skies.
But when Germany do it, they are lucky and the team is rubbish.

Hey all, Just writing from a hotel in the US, so forgive me if this has already been discussed: What was it like on Leopold str last night? Any riots?

Leopold str



sorry mate

I wonder how many real German football fans in the world would support the Dutch team if they had got to the final
(And why doesn't everyone in Munich support Bayern and not 1860 or their home team? They're obviously the best team in Germany)