Euro 2008 Diary [day5]

Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

The Czechs have elected to leave Jan Koller on the bench for this one and they are much the better for it. However despite a more mobile front-line it is Portugal who take the lead, some intricate passing around the penalty area leads to a not so intricate scrambled finish from Deco, who looks increasingly like Dean Saunders with every passing tournament. They lead for less than ten minutes though as the impressive Libor Sionko equalises with a bullet header from a corner.

Within a minute of the second half starting the Czechs almost lead, but Sionko's square ball is missing a killer touch to turn it into a goal. Although Portugal control the next quarter of an hour's play the Czech's come close again and this time its Tomas Ujfalusi's header that is agonisingly close. Within a minute a goal comes, however it's Portugal who score it, retaking the lead as Cristiano Ronaldo sweeps home Deco's square ball, as Clive Tyldsley says; "It had to be him".

After seventy-two minutes the Czechs introduce Jan Koller seemingly with the instructions to 'put himself about a bit'. His team-mates continue to press for an equaliser and given the Portugese keeper Ricardo's non-committal defence of his goal (but for one excellent tip over from a Sionko header) it's understandable. However, with much of their team camped in the Portugese half the Czechs are caught out by a quickly taken free-kick by Deco which releases Ronaldo and his unselfishness is rewarded with a clinical third goal for Ricardo Queresma.

Switzerland 1-2 Turkey

The Swiss fans in Basel are very loud and very red, but the game initially fails to live up to their volume. Then ten minutes in the heavens open... completely... and stay open. The more the pitch becomes waterlogged, the more intriguing and exciting the match becomes. Turkey come close to opening the scoring as Arda Turan inadvertently strikes the post. The Swiss keeper flaps at a free-kick from the by-line succeeding only in pushing it onto Arda's head before the ball strikes the upright.

Strangely inspired by the wet conditions Switzerland look increasingly dangerous and take a deserved lead after half an hour. A long ball holds up in the rain sodden penalty area allowing Eren Derdiyok to round the Turkish keeper, who slides past him hopelessly like a child on a flume, before squaring the ball towards Hakan Yakin. Although it stops in a puddle before it reaches him, Yakin treads water long enough to poke it over the line for the opening goal. "Try calling this off now" yells Steve Wilson over the Swiss celebrations. It could be worse for Turkey as Yakin wastes a similar opportunity just minutes later.

In the second half Turkey throw themselves into attack, but a chance goes begging as Hakan Balta inexplicably handballs. Thankfully for him his team-mates produce a goal on the hour mark as Semih Senturk heads home a cross from the left. Tuncay twice receives the ball in great positions on the right, but twice wastes the opportunities leaving Mark Bright desperately imploring Turkey to use Arda on the opposite flank.

Switzerland push for the win and almost get their goal in a four on two break, however after Johan Volatanhen's lay-off Yakin's shot is well saved by Volkan who smothers the rebound too. With Switzerland committing men forward they are hit on the break as Alda runs down the left before cutting inside and hitting a shot which is deflected in to give Turkey the win, knock Switzerland out, and presumably leave Mark Bright very smug indeed.