Croatia v Turkey - who will progress

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I'm saying Croatia, but I expect it to be tight.

Croatia

Croatia, because they're have more matchsmartness. Very mature team.

Turkey, if not I will suck my own balls and you can quote me on this

Turkey i feel might be mentality exhausted after their last performance, putting that effort and application in one game is one thing - doing it twice for me is debateable. It's one thing being tired physically, being mentally tired is quite something else... and after their rollercoaster of a game againsts the Czechs i feel this may be one step too far.

Croatia are obviously solid, although i do have my suspicions about their defence, particularly as the tournament progresses, if for example they conceed, this puts a lot of pressure on their attack to redeem the game, and although competent their isn't one person you can look for each game who will get Croatia a goal - in saying this if the Turks defence doesn't recover from their recent injuries then this could quite easily help Croatia as gaps and mistakes could quite conceivably be made.

i hope so we will have won that night

Do not think Turkey will be mentally exhausted. They'll be up for it, they know anything is possible now after coming back from 2-0 v the Czechs down. Such a comeback gives such a mental boost.

Don Leo wrote:Do not think Turkey will be mentally exhausted. They'll be up for it, they know anything is possible now after coming back from 2-0 v the Czechs down. Such a comeback gives such a mental boost.

I mean't exhaustion by not being absolutely focused - they will be on a high, my question i pose is - will they be able to calm down again and focus / concentrate, i don't know if you've played much half decent competitive football, but after a high like that mid tournament its very difficult to retain the right focus, and i'm not sure the mentality of the Turkish coach helps the players as he is very emotional and energetic, i would possibly argue that the Turks need calm heads around the place now as opposed to a rallying charge...

Turkey are a much more disciplined team, but all their CB's are banged up, and Rustu will be playing out of Semi-retirement. The Croats, are hungry, focused and together, and should edge it - but the Turks are capable of absolutely anything, as we've seen..

Will be a great spectacle though, both good footballing teams, both have pro-active coaches who wear their hearts on their sleeves, and the 2 sets of fans are probably the most passionate in the tourney.

Looking forward to it.

Croatia have a real winning mentality at the moment and will do it. They are a great team playing possibly abov themselves, they are a really dangerous prospect and i think they will beat Turkey and could even win the whole thing.

Sgoater1 wrote:Croatia have a real winning mentality at the moment and will do it. They are a great team playing possibly abov themselves, they are a really dangerous prospect and i think they will beat Turkey and could even win the whole thing.

Slaven Bilić has installed a real resilience into the team, HOWEVER - there are some interesting questions, Bilic has got his team fired up to believe they can be as good if not better than some of the more recognised nations, what will happen if they start conceeding the game to a less glamorous team? will he install the same mentality or will he become frustrated, the one attribute i don't believe Croatia have is a 'gung ho' option, which may ultimately cost them if they need a goal in the last ten minutes for example, it is a real test for Bilic and Croatia as to how good they really can be.

Because its you Goats, you could put some similarities to your City team - do the double over Man United as the players are fired up, yet have lost focus and performance against so called lesser teams...

My money is on Croatia, but Bilic is yet to be tested under knock out pressure IMO

Football Genius wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote:Croatia have a real winning mentality at the moment and will do it. They are a great team playing possibly abov themselves, they are a really dangerous prospect and i think they will beat Turkey and could even win the whole thing.

Slaven Bilić has installed a real resilience into the team, HOWEVER - there are some interesting questions, Bilic has got his team fired up to believe they can be as good if not better than some of the more recognised nations, what will happen if they start conceeding the game to a less glamorous team? will he install the same mentality or will he become frustrated, the one attribute i don't believe Croatia have is a 'gung ho' option, which may ultimately cost them if they need a goal in the last ten minutes for example, it is a real test for Bilic and Croatia as to how good they really can be.

Because its you Goats, you could put some similarities to your City team - do the double over Man United as the players are fired up, yet have lost focus and performance against so called lesser teams...

My money is on Croatia, but Bilic is yet to be tested under knock out pressure IMO

Yeah good point. Although we know how important confidence and strong mental attitude is in football, we have seen Porto win the Champs and Greece win the Euro's amongst others, maybe now its Croatia's turn.

I don't write anybody off at this point, i know very well how teams can do well in knock out situations (liverpool weren't given a chance in the 2005 Champs league season come the knock out stages)

I personally think lightening won't strike twice, i.e a team of a lesser performance capacity will deliver like Greece did in 2004, Holland or Portugal for my money, i can see the Portuguese players wanting to win it for Scolari as he is off, and for the same reasons Scolari being more focused than ever...

No-one has mentioned Turkey's injury list - they have 7 players out through injury or suspension, including their keeper as well as key midfielders like Mehmet Aurelio and Emre. The giant CB Servet is also injured.

Add in the fact that they had a mentally and physically draining last match against the Czechs, while Croatia cruised and rested players, and it all points to a Croatia win. But they will have to avoid making the same mistake as the Czechs and relaxing, which is a particular danger considering how badly Croatia faded after leading 1-0 in their first match against Austria.

Hopefully Turkey.

Croatia, but I hope Turkey will win.

kas wrote:No-one has mentioned Turkey's injury list - they have 7 players out through injury or suspension, including their keeper as well as key midfielders like Mehmet Aurelio and Emre. The giant CB Servet is also injured.

Add in the fact that they had a mentally and physically draining last match against the Czechs, while Croatia cruised and rested players, and it all points to a Croatia win. But they will have to avoid making the same mistake as the Czechs and relaxing, which is a particular danger considering how badly Croatia faded after leading 1-0 in their first match against Austria.

Giovani Dos Spurs wrote:Turkey are a much more disciplined team, but all their CB's are banged up, and Rustu will be playing out of Semi-retirement. The Croats, are hungry, focused and together, and should edge it - but the Turks are capable of absolutely anything, as we've seen..

Will be a great spectacle though, both good footballing teams, both have pro-active coaches who wear their hearts on their sleeves, and the 2 sets of fans are probably the most passionate in the tourney.

Looking forward to it.

But you didn't mention the midfielders

Pierre Littbarski wrote:?

croatia..its a no brainer..turkey are pants..

Turks again I reckon