Today in Euro 2008: Turkish hopes hit by loss of Nihat following thigh injury

Monday 23 June 2008 00:00 BST
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Turkey Striker Nihat Kahveci has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a thigh injury, adding to coach Fatih Terim's worries as Turkey try for their first final.

Emre Gungor (calf) is already out of Euro 2008, while Servet Cetin (hip and knee), Tumer Metin (groin) and Emre Belozoglu (hamstring) face a race to be fit in time for Wednesday's semi-final match against Germany.

The Turks were without six players when they beat Croatia 3-1 on penalties in the quarter-finals on Friday, when three more – Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik – were suspended due to accumulated cards.

Defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returns from a one-match ban, but goalkeeper Volkan Demirel has one game left on his suspension after being sent off against the Czech Republic last week.

Despite the injury and suspension crisis, Uefa has said it has no plans to alter its rules and allow the team to call up more players.

Fights mar 'friendly' celebrations

Swiss police arrested 30 fans in Basle following Russia's 3-1 win over the Netherlands. Police said yesterday they had to break up a number of fights in the city centre after Saturday's quarter-final match. The arrests included Russian and Dutch fans, as well as Swiss nationals. Nonetheless, authorities described the celebrations as "mostly friendly".

Leading scorers

4 goals: Villa (Sp)

3: Podolski (Ger), Yakin (Swit), Pavlyuchenko (Rus)

2: Arshavin (Rus), Ballack (Ger), Van Nistelrooy (Neth), Sneijder (Neth), Van Persie (Neth), Ibrahimovic (Swe), Klasnic (Croa), Senturk (Tur), Nihat (Tur), Arda (Tur)

Not including last night's game

Quote of the day

*"Hiddink knocks out Oranje. The dream is in smithereens" The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf laments the Netherlands' loss to Russia, coached by the Dutchman Guus Hiddink, in a front page headline.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in