Croatia Vs. Turkey

It's like nobody gives a $h!t about this game.
I don't know if there's a thread about this game, if yes, then i do apologize.
As for the game, i have mixed feelings, i want both teams to progress.
But Croatia will be a better side tonight, and unless Turkey do something extraordinary, i only see them out of 1/4 finals.

Hey mate,

The affiche is the least interested if you take into account the background of the Euroboarders...

If we had more people from the Balkan on here there would have been more people writing about this game...

On the other hand, People on here were very positive on Croatia and Turkey this tournement. A win over Germany and Engalnd always help of course and the come back kids from Turkey stole the hearts on here being the only team that was capable to turn a match!

Still, both teams aren't seen as favourites. I hope Croatia to win. In the first place because they have the better players. they showed overall the better football and...

Last but not least: they can beat Germany while Turkey will never beat Germany in a million years.

I'm expecting a similar game to the Czech Republic-Turkey one. Fatih Terim said so himself, that Turkey would stick to their gameplan of starting slowly but saving their energy and then intensifying their play towards the end of the game.

But Turkey has a lot of injuries, esp. some key ones like Servet, Demirel, and Aurelio. So it'll be interesting to see what happens. Personally I can't see them pulling off a win, but there's always one surprise side in the semis, so it'll probably be either them or Russia (though it could be argued that Croatia going to the semi rather than Portugal is a surprise anyway).

Conclusion: If Croatia win tonight.... We Dutchies are 100% for sure out....

I am sorry, while this is an interesting match-up and I have enjoyed watching both these teams so far, IMO this game is mostly academic... none of them will beat Germany...

Turkey's extra willpower will not be a competitive advantage over the Germans who will match it with a little more class, and dare I say, hieght. Croatia are very good technically and will match the Germans, but what are the odds of them beating the Germans twice in a row?? The Germans will be more aware of their capabilities/style now, they will be gunning for revenge, and they will this time continue to attack them.

While you can never predict any game in football 100%, the odds of Germany reaching the final are as sure as they can be. The only question is who they will face in the final, as any of the 4 teams on the other side of the draw could make it. I am sure Germany are hoping for anyone but the Italians.

No one has any serious agenda that dictates the build up unlike every other game that's left in this tournament and so the build up has been pretty low key. The 3 other games all on paper promise to be much better matches as it is, before national bias is taken account so nobody really cares at the moment.

Hopefully Croatia will pull through, but I'll be disappointed if Turkey don't at least score once.

Croatia should win it. I don't think Turkey can get lucky a 3rd time.

blue, I think has a very good record against Germany and I think they have a good chance of winning. But now I would put my money on a Germany - Italy final.

Come on Turkey. Want a Turkey Russia final

IN particular for the Dutchies on the board:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8x6MQ---g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PbxDDjKnb0&feature=related

Try playing it at high volume.
Its not a joke, but for real

Gone wrote:Croatia should win it. I don't think Turkey can get lucky a 3rd time.

blue, I think has a very good record against Germany and I think they have a good chance of winning. But now I would put my money on a Germany - Italy final.

Germany, yes.

Italy, not yet....

The Turks will win.

Hopefully Turkey , us vs Turks would be some game for people back home.

bluenine wrote:I am sure Germany are hoping for anyone but the Italians.

As I've said repeatedly in the past, that would actually be my first choice final. 2006 is not forgotten.

My second choice would be Holland, for obvious reasons.


But we have to qualify for the final first, which won't be a given as some on here are believing. Both Turkey this year (the only team to come back twice in the group stages, winning two matches after conceding first) and Croatia are definitely not to be underestimated. And Turkey would be an extra mental / emotional challenge, knowing that millions of Turks live here, and quite a few Turkish players were born and grown up here - they'd be extra motivated.

A Germany - Turkey semi would be huge in this country. And risky also, especially if Turkey should lose.

if you meet italy in the final we don't have to play the final because you already won it then...

can't see italy beating you guys this time!

so congrats already with the title

since lastnight you guys are TOWER HIGH favourites

Hahaha.....you are one sneaky Dutchie Ricardo. Love to give us the 'favourite' status, because you know that we don't like it, and tend to get complacent when we have it. But sorry, there is only one favourite left in the tournament, and that is Holland, the best team of the competition in the group stages, hands down.

Holland is the top favourite now, you beat both WC finalists comfortably, and Romania with your B-team. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

blutgraetsche wrote:

Holland is the top favourite now, you beat both WC finalists comfortably, and Romania with your B-team. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

It may have seemed ‘comfortable’ but there were scares, without Edwin there could be different results. Van Basten admitted after the France game the team keeps making ‘mistakes’ and went on to say there is still room for improvement. Maybe these wins have made the team ‘favourites’ but they need to produce similar results in their next 3 games if they stand any chance of living up to the tag. I still think it’s an open contest.

blutgraetsche wrote:Hahaha.....you are one sneaky Dutchie Ricardo. Love to give us the 'favourite' status, because you know that we don't like it, and tend to get complacent when we have it. But sorry, there is only one favourite left in the tournament, and that is Holland, the best team of the competition in the group stages, hands down.

Holland is the top favourite now, you beat both WC finalists comfortably, and Romania with your B-team. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

We are favourites in our group you are favourites in your group.... If you meet Russia, Italy or Spain in the final you'll win it: 99% for sure! If you meet us in the final you wont win it: 99% for sure!

The fact is... you are already in the final while we have to take two huge hurdles... A loss against Russia would be a humiliation and i don't expect that to be honest.. but especially against Italy (and also against Spain) we certainly can lose especially on a bad day...

To take all these things into account you are sky high favourites. We are second favourites Italy are third favourites!

"99% sure" to beat us in the final? It has been noted.

It's still too early to talk about the final, there are three quarter final matches and two semi finals to be played first.

And to get back to the topic of this thread, I expect this 1/4 final between Turkey and Croatia to be a cracker - heated atmosphere, a lot of fouls and passion, and some good football, of course.

Lothar Matthaus says: Croatia 2-0 Turkey

"Congratulations to Turkey to reach the quarterfinals with nice football, but the Croatians have not only convinced me in this tournament, they were also very strong in the qualification. The mix between young, talented players and older, experienced players works and the connection with the coach is outstanding. Such things lift not only the team, but the whole country and the fans and that's why Croatia will win the game against Turkey."

I will watch with interest as there is several turks where i live so we have been talking about this game. also i will put money on this game after i missed out yesterday where i wanted to put money on Germany but i got at the shop too late. i wont make the same mistake. will put money on Turkey,Holland,Spain.

I hope Turkey win just to give any and all anxiety away from the German team. Having to play Croatia again would just bring up old memories we don't want to revisit.

bluenine wrote:I am sorry, while this is an interesting match-up and I have enjoyed watching both these teams so far, IMO this game is mostly academic... none of them will beat Germany...

I don't think so, Croatia have already shown they can beat probably anyone regardless of the importance of the match.

Hope Turkey win though.

Still people aren't taking Croatia seriously. People think Germany will beat them, purely because they're Germany, that isn't good logic. They've already played once and Croatia played them off the park, they didn't just beat them, they dicked them and could have won by 3 or 4. So why aren't Croatia favourites?

Croatia team to face Turkey



Turkey team to face Croatia

I've got Arda in my fantasy team, though I'm thinking of swapping him for Rakitic

Why don’t you play both?

Well I could, but I'd have to drop one of Snejider or VDV which isn't going to happen...

Afellay wrote:Croatia team to face Turkey

Pletikosa
Corluka – R.Kovac – Simunic – Pranjic
Modric – N.Kovac - Rakitic
Srna – Olic – Kranjcar


Nihat - Kazim
Turan – Tuncay - Sarioglu
Topal
Balta – Asik – Zan - Altintop
Rustu

Turkey team to face Croatia

Will Kazim Collin Richards again praise his coach for being a genius if he subs him after 60 minutes?

I’ve actually been impressed with Kazim Kazim, has pace in abundance and willing to take on defenders, the only concern is his decision making. If he’s not making any kind of impact I expect him to be subbed.

The battle of the no14s will be ace: Modric v Turan who will make the difference !

BTW Why is Collin Richard called Kazim? Why we Dutchies don't change names like Ibrahim Afellay into Bram Appelvlaai? Or Khalid Boulahrouz into Karel Boele de Roes?