Turkey managed to drag fairly a shock on Thursday night, beating Croatia in Osijek to interrupt high of Group D within the Euro 2024 {qualifications}. The one objective of the sport was the work of Baris Yilmas, a beautiful chip within the thirtieth minute that caught Dominik Livakovic within the Croatia objective in no-man’s land.
The sport
Why precisely Livakovic was so removed from his objective in that second, solely he is aware of, but it surely ought to be mentioned that solely his high quality saved Croatia stage on a number of events earlier than that. Yilmaz threatened with a harmful shot within the second minute already, and 7 minutes later, Livakovic saved out Muhammed Akturkoglu’s rocket from the sting of the field. Simply 4 minutes after that, Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir hit a protracted go ahead and located Akturkoglu once more, however the winger was thwarted by Livakovic as soon as extra.
Even after the objective, the guests continued creating probabilities and Akturkoglu got here near scoring within the fortieth minute once more as a nasty mistake by Mateo Kovacic enabled Turkey to assault in numbers.
The second half began just about in the identical approach, with Akturkoglu and Yilmaz terrorizing the Croatia defence. Turkey had two extra probabilities, each arrange by Akturkoglu, however Yilmaz fired over the bar from round 10 yards, and Irfan Kahveci’s header was too tame to trigger Livakovic any issues.
It took Croatia over an hour to get into something that appeared like a goalscoring alternative, however within the sixty fifth minute, Kovacic’s feeble shot was cleared by Abdulkerim Bardakci. Within the 79th, substitute Lovro Majer got here very shut, beating Cakir one on one and sending the ball in direction of the objective, however Samet Akaydin cleared it off the very line, earlier than referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle for offside. Dion Drena Beljo, additionally a substitute, got here even nearer two minutes later, however Cakir made certain his staff stayed forward.
It appeared like Croatia would lastly get their likelihood to equalize when Taylor awarded them a penalty, believing the ball to have struck the arm of Hakan Calhanoglu, however his determination was finally overturned – it had hit Calhanoglu within the shoulder.
Luka Modric was the person who had the final shot of the sport, firing desperately from lengthy vary and failing to bother Cakir in any respect.
Regardless of Croatia having the ball for 63% of the match and taking extra photographs (17-14), it was Turkey who hit the goal extra occasions (5-6), and it ought to be mentioned that Croatia’s first shot on the right track got here within the third minute of the first-half stoppage time. By that point, Turkey had already had 4.
All in all, Turkey deserved their victory. They performed very straight, all the time searching for to attain. As for Croatia, this actually wasn’t what we’re used to seeing from this staff. No creativity, no concepts on the pitch, they usually had been truly fortunate to concede simply as soon as.
Group standings
This triumph has introduced Vincenzo Montella’s staff inside a step from qualifying for the European Championship subsequent 12 months. They high the group with 13 factors from six matches, three greater than Croatia from 5. Armenia (seven from six) and Wales (seven from 5) observe. Latvia, who sit on the backside with solely three factors from six video games, have misplaced all likelihood of taking part in on the Euros.
On Sunday, Turkey host Latvia, and some extent there might be sufficient to seal the deal for Montella and his males. In the meantime, Croatia may also search to get the job finished by beating Wales in Cardiff.
As issues stand in the mean time, each Turkey and Croatia seem on the right track to qualify.
