Czech Republic-Turkey clash might end in penalties

An extraordinary set of circumstances could lead to a penalty shootout in the crucial Group A match between the Czech Republic and Turkey on Sunday.

After Wednesday’s matches, the two nations are level on points, goals scored and goals conceded and UEFA Euro 2008 regulations clearly state that the spot in the quarter-finals will be decided on penalties, this if the match ends in a draw and all the categories remain equal.

The verbatim regulation from UEFA (Article 7.08) states: “If two teams which have the same number of points, the same number of goals scored and conceded play their last group match against each other and are still equal at the end of that match, the ranking of the two teams in question will be determined by kicks from the penalty mark, provided no other teams within the group have the same number of points on completion of all group matches.”

There will be no extra time, and the shootout would occur after the 90 minutes are completed. With Portugal already through as group winners – having clinched all possible tiebreakers with either the Czechs or Turks – the second spot from Group A would be on the line from the spot.

So far both the Czechs and Turks have three points apiece (each having defeated Switzerland) and they have both scored twice and conceded three times.