In a thrilling conclusion to their Euro 2024 group stage campaign, Turkey secured a spot in the quarterfinals after a nail-biting 2-1 win against the Czech Republic. The pivotal match, played at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and was not without controversy and a record number of yellow cards.The game’s decisive moment came in stoppage time when Cenk Tosun found the net, breaking the 1-1 deadlock and sending the Turkish fans into a frenzy. Earlier, Hakan Çalhanoğlu had given Turkey the lead in the 51st minute, only for Tomas Soucek to equalize for the Czech Republic in the 66th minute. The Czech team’s resilience was notable despite being reduced to 10 men after Antonin Barak’s expulsion in the 20th minute.Turkey’s victory was a testament to the team’s tenacity and the tactical acumen of coach Vincenzo Montella, who faced criticism for his team selection but ultimately led the team to victory. The Turkish team, now with six points, looks ahead to a challenging quarterfinal match against Austria in Leipzig on July 2nd, with the potential to face the Netherlands or Romania in the semifinals.
Key points
- Turkey secured a place in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
- Cenk Tosun’s stoppage-time goal was the decisive factor in Turkey’s victory.
- The Turkish team will face Austria in the quarterfinals on July 2nd.
