A night to celebrate for Turkey after feisty contest

While Georgia’s intensity at Gelsenkirchen was creating history, at Hamburg, a storm was brewing on the pitch – the storm continued even after the final whistle was blown as the vital group match between the Czech Republic and Turkey transformed into a feisty contest.

The Czech Republic, who could only go through with a win, had begun assertively and looked the better side until two exasperating moments from Antonin Barak. He was booked for an early foul on Ferdi Kadioglu and then, nine minutes later, he clipped Salih Ozcan’s foot with studs up. Barak could have been given one last chance. He held his head in his hands when the punishment was confirmed.

They had almost scored after two minutes when Lukas Provod’s deflected strike drew a full-stretch save from Mert Gunok and then, with 10 men, held out in relative comfort before half‑time. Gunok rescued ­Turkey again when David Jurasek broke through and there was a sense that chance needed to be taken.

Jindrich Stanek seemed to have saved his side with a brilliant one-handed stop Kenan Yildiz but the rebound was only cleared to the edge of the box and worked left to Hakan Calhanoglu.

The captain cut across the ball with the outside of his foot and scripted a, technically masterful finish across the keeper.

Bat later on, the Turkish captain was shown a red card for which he would miss the match against Austria.

The bigger concern may be how Turkey lost their heads after that, being pegged back by a blast from Tomas Soucek after the recently introduced Chory had caused Gunok to drop a high ball.

Tension radiated from all corners; Jan Kuchta had a goal ruled out for the Czechs but Tosun offered some calm before the late scrap.

The second the final whistle was blown, a huge brawl broke out. Tomas Chory, in the middle of it, is shown a straight red card. Arda Guler, who had Scrappy Doo-ed his way back onto the pitch, is booked.

A pitch invader added some more spice to the mix.

Referee Istvan Kovacs experienced a tougher time. 

As the dust settled, the Turkish players celebrated in front of the dejected Czech unit. 

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar