When Czech top dog Karel Bruckner said before the tournament that Group A would go to wire, I don’t think he expected his Czech Republic side to be taking part in a penalty shoot-out before the knock-out stages.
“There’s no favourites, no outsiders, all four have a chance of going through,” said Bruckner. “They say Portugal have a very good quality squad, but Turkey are very good, as they have many qualities, and I don’t want to underestimate Switzerland, because they are playing at home. I think it will remain undecided until the last match.”
The wily old Bruckner was certainly right though as qualification will go to the last match – a winner-takes-all clash between the Czechs and Turkey, but if their game is drawn penalties will ensue.
Portugal have already won Group A but if a draw is the outcome in Geneva on June 15 then the Czech Republic and Turkey will be level on points, goal difference and goals scored, and according to Article 7.08 in the regulations, in that instance, if the two equal teams are playing in the last game, their match and second place in the group is decided by spot-kicks after 90 minutes.
It is sure to be a terrific spectacle for football betting fans and with tensions running high a dramatic penalty shoot-out is almost a ‘cert’.
Whoever finishes as Group A runners-up will play the winners of Group B in Vienna on 20 June.
Portugal, as Group A winners, face the Group B runners-up in Basel the night before.
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By Phil Tomlinson
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