A2: Switzerland 1 - 2 Turkey - 11/06/08

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Euro 2008, Group A
Switzerland v Turkey

Stadium: St. Jakob-Park, Basel
Kick-off: Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 20.45h

[Vargas_4]

After watching how Switzerland didn't manage a deserved victory despite playing really well and seeing Turkey's determination to obtain a good result...

I'm gonna go here for a draw that won't work for neither team.

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Turkey's coach has declared that his team has nothing to loose now, and will go out on full attack against Switzerland.

[PAOK_4]

I disagree that they have nothing to lose. They lost to the best team in the group and the Czechs and Swiss still have to play Portugal. Two wins now said Turkey through. They should stick to their game plan and not just go all-out attack, but I've never respected Terim as a coach.

[z187]

This match will be a grudge match, hosts want to chalk up some much needed points and we all remember the controversy that erupted when these two teams played for world cup qualification.

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A cup final in round 2

It's been some 31 months since both teams faced each other for the last time, but no one has forgotten what happened back then.

When hosts Switzerland and Turkey clash in Basle on Wednesday (20:45), memories from 16th November 2005 will be revived.

Nasty memories

Players and staff of both teams had attacked each other on the pitch and in the catacombs of the Sükrü Saracoglu stadium after the Swiss had eliminated Turkey in the play-offs for participation in the 2006 World Cup.

FIFA reacted with rigorous suspensions, most of them for the Turkish side. 17 players involved in that game are still part of both squads, but everyone involved is hoping for a "normal" game of football.

"Fairness and friendship"

"It's over and forgotten. We apologised. On Wednesday there will be fairness and friendship on the pitch", coach Fatih Terim announced.

"You can't forget that. But it will never happen again. We want to decide matters on the pitch. I expect things to stay calm", Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) said.

On the brink of elimination

The match is explosive enough in itself after both teams started the tournament with a defeat. The hosts haven't given up yet, however.

"Portugal started with a defeat four years ago and still reached the final. We're still confident", former Bundesliga striker Marco Streller insisted.

Frei still with the team

Injured captain Alexander Frei is still with the team and tries to motivate everyone. "Our whole nation has just one team, and the team has a dream. That must continue on Wednesday", the Borussia Dortmund goalgetter demanded.

Frei will miss the remainder of the tournament with partially torn inside knee ligaments.

Under-fire Terim confident

In Turkey, the media have already targetted the coach, partly because FC Bayern's Hamit Altintop had to play at right back in the 2-0 defeat to Portugal. But Terim is unfazed by that.

"Doubts are not appropriate. The Euro isn't over yet. We will beat Switzerland and the Czechs and reach the last 8", the coach boasted.

Line-ups as expected:

Switzerland: 1 Benaglio - 5 Lichtsteiner, 4 Senderos, 20 Müller, 3 Magnin - 19 Behrami, 8 Inler, 15 Fernandez, 16 Barnetta - 12 Derdiyok, 11 Streller. - Trainer: Kuhn

Turkey: 23 Volkan - 20 Sabri, 15 Emre Asik, 2 Servet (13 Emre Güngör), 3 Hakan - 22 Hamit Altintop, 7 Mehmet Aurelio, 5 Emre Belözoglu, 14 Arda - 8 Nihat, 21 Mevlüt (18 Kazim). - Trainer: Terim

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Hi there! A quick update from the Swiss camp: As coach Jakob Kuhn is known for being conservative and has already said that he was pleased with the way his team played during the tournament's opener, not much will change in the Swiss lineup against Turkey tonight. For the injured Alexander Frei, Hakan Yakin is again expected to feature behind striker Marco Streller, as he did in the second half against the Czech Republic on Saturday. With Streller and Behrami most likely fit enough to play, the predicted starting XI is Benaglio – Magnin, Senderos, Müller, Lichtsteiner, Inler, Fernandes, Barnetta, Behrami, Yakin, Streller.

With four and a half hours to go to kick-off, the atmosphere starts warming up with supporters of both countries arriving in the stadium area. Inside the stadium, the last preparations are taking place, with the stadium announcer rehearsing the line-up announcement. Meanwhile, it has stopped raining and there are some sunny spells and the temperature is rising.

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

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Kick off in 20 minutes.

Confirmed starting line-ups:

Switzerland:

Derdiyok - Hakan Yakin
Barnetta - Fernandes - Inler - Behrami
Magnin (C) - Senderos - Müller - Lichtsteiner
Benaglio

Turkey:

Tuncay Sanli - Nihat Kahveci (C)
Arda Turan - Tümer Metin - Aurelio - Gökdeniz Karadeniz
Hakan Balta - Servet Cetin - Emre Asik - Hamit Altintop
Volkan Demirel

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

[__-SNAKE-__]

This should be good....WHY THE FUCK IS HAMIT STILL IN DEFENSE??? TERIM YOU IDIOT!!

[ReMad]

National anthems
Click Here for Video

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20 mins; 0-0. Everything has been pretty equal thus far.

Happy to see the flag of my country waving among the spectators, it doesn't happen often. Support for Behrami.

Heavy rain in Basel btw.

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Barnetta with a great free kick, but Volkan responds with a super save.

I repeat, heavy rain in this game, players slipping a lot, passes slowed down, difficult to play.

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Nihat from free kick finds Metin's (not sure if it was him) head, and the ball hits the post.

I feel the match could be postponed of the rain.

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GOAAAAAL! 1-0, Hakan Yakin. Derdiyok (tournament's youngest player) assisted to him.

Yakin is not celebrating, due to respect for his home land.

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Behrami with a perfect cross, Yakin missed a sitter.

Ugly football this, rain has fucked up the field.