Minute by Minute: Switzerland – Turkey

It’s crunch time now in Group A of Euro 2008 as Switzerland and Turkey will desperately be looking for three points as they square off in Basel at St. Jakob Park.

Current score: 0-0
More match information: Here.

Feel free to register or log in and start using the ‘discuss’ option below to give your opinion on this match!

Minute 13: Rain starting to pour down in Basel and fans are reaching for their rain gear, but don’t expect any to head for the exits. Too much riding on this game to abandon their teams.

Minute 9: Dangerous-looking cross from the right by Arda Turan, but Diego Benaglio catches.

Minute 7: Karadeniz makes a run into the area, but he’s just slightly offside.

Minute 4: Two deputy captains in this match actually. Ludovic Magnin for Switzerland in place of Alex Frei and Nihat for Turkey in place of Emre Belözoglu.

Minute 2: Early corner kick for Turkey, but deputy captain Nihat Kahveci’s inswinger is no threat to the Swiss goal.

Minute 1: Lubos Michel is officiating his first match since the Champions League final, and his whistle gets us underway in Basel!

Pre-Game: This is the first match between these two nations since the “Istan-brawl”, a fight that occurred after Switzerland defeated Turkey in a World Cup 2006 qualifying playoff. We’ll see if any bad blood remains. Anthems are being played now – Turkey first, then Switzerland.

Pre-Game: For those wondering why Streller isn’t even on the team list of players available for today’s match, he is sidelined with a groin injury. Switzerland will be very slim in attack, meaning Yakin and Derdiyok will likely need to go 90 minutes in this one.

Pre-Game: Two changes for Köbi Kuhn and Switzerland as Hakan Yakin and Eren Derdiyok will go from the start in place of Alexander Frei (who is out for the rest of the tournament) and Marco Streller. Turkey make several changes from the squad that lost to Portugal. Gökhan Zan, Emre Belözoglu, Kazim Kazim, and Mevlüt Erdinç are relegated to the bench with Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Tümer Metin, Arda Turan, and Emre Asik coming into Fatih Terim’s side.

Pre-Game: It’s a must-win situation for co-hosts Switzerland here tonight. Portugal’s 3-1 win over the Czech Republic means the Swiss must grab three points from Turkey or they will be eliminated. Turkey aren’t in much better shape, and they will be looking for three points as well. Portugal clinch a berth in the quarterfinals with any result but a Swiss victory.