In a thrilling final group game, Turkey defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 thanks to a last-minute goal by Cenk Tosun. The win means Turkey advances to the last 16 of the European Championship, where they will face Austria.
The Czech Republic, needing a win to stay in the tournament, pushed hard for victory in the final moments of the match. However, their defensive gaps were exploited by Tosun, who skillfully maneuvered past defenders and scored in the stoppage time.
The Czech Republic’s chances were significantly reduced when Antonin Barak received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Arda Guler in the first half. This was one of 18 cards issued during the match, a new record for a European Championship game.
Turkey initially struggled to break through the Czech defense and went into halftime without a shot on target. However, their fortunes changed six minutes after the break when captain Hakan Calhanoglu scored a stunning goal into the bottom corner.
With the Czech Republic now needing two goals to win, they managed to equalize when Tomas Soucek, a midfielder for West Ham, scored from close range. The game became intense as both teams fought for a decisive goal.
Turkey’s persistence paid off in the 94th minute when Cenk Tosun scored, sealing their place in the knockout stages. The match ended in chaos, with both teams clashing and Czech Republic’s Tomas Chory also receiving a red card.
The match, played in the sweltering heat of Hamburg, was filled with bookings. A total of 18 cards were shown, including 17 yellow cards and 1 red card, making it the most card-filled game in European Championship history. Many of the yellow cards were handed out in the final 10 minutes as both teams pushed hard for the win.
Despite the heated atmosphere and numerous bookings, the game was highly entertaining, particularly after the Czech Republic equalized, making the contest very close. The late goal by Tosun allowed Turkey to celebrate a memorable victory.
This win is particularly sweet for Turkey as they recall their dramatic 2008 European Championship victory over the Czech Republic, where they came back from two goals down. Now, Turkey’s passionate supporters look forward to the knockout stages with renewed hope.
