Chapter 191 Black to the End

In the first quarter-final, Croatia played against Turkey. Before the game, almost everyone was optimistic that Croatia could advance. Let alone mention the group stage record, the neatness of the personnel alone, the plaid army was far better than the Star Moon Iron Rider.

In this game, Turkey's previous main goalkeeper Dmirel was banned, and the second goalkeeper Volkan was injured, leaving only one old goalkeeper Rustu. As a result, with Rusto's excellent performance, Turkey drew with Croatia in regular time, and finally eliminated Croatia with a penalty kick.

Croatia actually played very well in this game, especially Modric, Degan's little brother in Florence. Almost all Croatia's threatening attacks were initiated by Modric.

Especially in overtime, at the last minute, Modric launched a fatal attack and passed a straight ball to Krašnić, almost stuffing the first European Cup top four in Croatia's history into his pocket. However, Modric, who was the first to appear in the penalty shootout, unexpectedly missed the penalty and fell from the hero to the mortal world.

However, after the game, Croatian coach Bilic has no blame for his beloved apprentice and still appreciates it: "Luca is a very good player, and I have always believed in this. He is a mixture of Cruyv and Zola. Not only that, Modric is also a person who can keep running on the court. Running player, Croatia has never had such a midfielder.

It is a supreme honor for a young player to be compared with either Cruyff or Zola, and it is amazing that Modric can have the qualities of these two players at the same time.

Blic's praise to Modric may still be due to his support for his fellow descendants, but the Milan Sport also gave Modric a surprising description, even more than Bilrich.

"Cruiv's comprehensive, Zola's imagination, Pirlo's organization and overall view, Deco's infinite power, Gattuso's fighting spirit."

Although he lost the whole game in the penalty shootout and stopped at the top eight of the European Cup, it could not hide the performance of the Croats. The core Modric contributed an excellent performance. In the battle with Turkey, it can be said that Modric's hero to sinners was in an instant.

Modric, who was the first to stand at the penalty spot, chose the same direction as the first game of the group and scored an Austrian penalty, but this time the ball came out of the goal. Although Srner scored the second penalty, Rakitic and Petric followed Modric's bad luck and lost the penalty. The Croats could only see the earth. The person has completed the reversal.

Modric, who walked off the field, seemed very frustrated, and his eyes were full of tears before accepting the reporter's question: "When the opponent equalized the score, we had fallen to the bottom. The moment we stood at the penalty point, my mind was blank. I don't know why I chose that angle or how to make a penalty point. Ball, even after losing the game, I woke up from stiffness. I can't remember anything I did before. This is how I feel about this game. It seems that I have forgotten the first 117 minutes and only remember what happened in the last two minutes.

The other players in the Croatian team felt almost the same as Modric, standing at the penalty point in a muddle, and the only defeat waiting for them.

Summarize it with a sentence from coach Bilić at the post-match press conference: "120 minutes later, I have seen that the players will face defeat!"

However, Modric's performance in the whole European Cup is remarkable. The two games in the group stage are the best in the whole game. This game also planned more than half of the team's attacks and wonderful passes, and it is only 12 yards away from the "final kill" and the "final four".

The regrettable fall in the penalty shootout made many Croats shed sad tears. How cruel it is for this talented team to be eliminated.

A defeat cannot hide the progress of Croatia's overall strength. After winning the world third place in 1998, Croatia finally returned to the ranks of the world's first-class teams after 10 years of dormant.

Orci, Modric and Srner, who are known as the new "Three Musketeers" in the team, are similar to Prosinneschi, Boban and Suc, and Croatia still has infinite possibilities in the future.

The Turks won. The last time they met Croatia was in Euro 96, when the Star and Moon lost 0:1. Rustus is the only person in the Turkish national team who has participated in that game.

There is divine will. Demiral's ban and Volkan gave Rustus the opportunity to premiere this competition. 12 years later, Turkey No. 1 came with a very dramatic "Revenge of the Old Prince".

The 2002 World Cup is the peak of Ruster, and the Turkish doorman is similar to William in the movie Braveheart. Wallace's fighter image conquered fans all over the world, led Turkey to the third place, and was finally selected into the FIFA all-star lineup.

The trip to Barcelona in the 03/04 season was a turning point for Rusto's career. For example, he was treated coldly due to injuries and non-European quota restrictions, and in the summer of 2004, he had to return to China to join Nebach.

The experience of La Liga greatly damaged Rustu's vitality. After failing to help Turkey qualify for the 06 World Cup finals, Rustus gradually lost his position as the absolute main force. During the qualifiers, Demirell and Wolkan rotated to play. Although they came to the European Cup, Rusto only became an iron bench.

However, Demirell was banned, Volkan's red card made Rustus, and Turkey No. 1 continued to break the national team's record.

This is the first time since Euro 96, Rustus has competed as a substitute goalkeeper, and he is obviously ready to fight.

Turkey can survive to overtime, and Rustu's contribution is indispensable. In 50 minutes, Gerkhan's header returned to the top. Rustus, who quickly attacked, grabbed the ball in front of Orci's header and touched the ball with his fist. Four minutes later, he saved a low shot in Kranica's penalty area. In 82 minutes, Srner's free kick turned to the far corner guarded by Rustu. The Turks still jumped back and held the ball out of the bottom line with one palm when they had moved their center of gravity incorrectly. In 89 minutes, Rustu saved Orci's shovel shot in the penalty area, and two minutes later, he pressed Srner's direct free kick under him.

The pressure of the subsequent penalty shootout was suffocating, but it was nothing for Rustu, who had experienced countless big scenes. When Modric and Raquitic took the penalty, Rustu judged the right way. Under his strong pressure, the two Croatian young players missed the penalty.

Petrić is obviously not Rusto's opponent, and the Turks blocked Croatia's fourth penalty with a perfect side attack. At the moment he rose into the air, no one could see that he was already a 35-year-old veteran.

In the top four, Turkey made history. After winning, Rustus wanted to shake hands with referee Rossetti, but a few seconds later, he was surrounded by his teammates like a hero.

Turkey's next opponent will be the winner of Germany and Belgium. Although Demirel will end the suspension, with the excellent performance of this game, Rustus will definitely continue to start.

At the 2002 World Cup between South Korea and Japan, Turkey was blocked by Brazil. Rusto missed the opportunity to reach the top of the world. Now he and his Turkish team are at the door of the final again. As long as they cross the semi-finals, the old goalkeeper will have the opportunity to challenge the Drone Cup. For this For veterans who withdrew from the national team after the European Cup, the only synonym of miracle is the champion!

The Turks do not lack courage, but they are also facing difficulties. In the quarter-finals against Croatia, the Turkish team has only 17 players left due to injuries and bans. After the match with Croatia, the Turkish team advanced with a few more unlucky people. In the semi-finals, Turkey will face a more difficult shortage of people.

Before the start of this game, Turkey was already full of wounded soldiers. Defender Setin's knee was almost scrapped and his whole body was injured. It was difficult to get out of the following game. Emre's muscles are torn, and there is nothing to hope for. There is a problem with Metin's groin, and everyone knows that this is not an injury that can be recovered in a short time. And Gankel, who was carried off the group stage, and the players suspended from the red line, Turkey had only one goalkeeper and 16 players in other positions before the quarter-finals.

This is not the worst thing. In the quarter-finals against Croatia, eight of Turkey's first players came out with a yellow card.

In fact, Trim has no choice. It is obviously unrealistic to consider a further semi-final. It seems more realistic to step over Croatia first.

As a result, in the game, Tonghai, Turan and Asik got yellow cards one after another and were destined to miss the semi-finals. At the end of the game, Nihat was also replaced due to injury. Coupled with the cumulative yellow card suspension of three people, the Turkish team can still support the starters of the semi-finals, and now it can be determined that there are no more than 15 people.

Perhaps the first thing after Trim returns to the hotel is to pray to Allah for his wounded to recover quickly. In the game against Croatia, Trim can still stick to the tactical play he is used to.

In the current situation, I'm afraid that the Turks want to reproduce the magic, and it is difficult to continue from the tactical arrangement of the players on the field.

Maybe Turkey will not be the final winner of this cup, but at least the memory left by the Turkic iron riders in this cup is comparable to the champion.

The four times of adversity are not so much that God is helping the Turks as the help of the self-helpers. The tenacious Turks have completed the task of the top four perfectly under the condition of extremely unorganized personnel. In the semi-finals, whether against Germany or Belgium, the Turks who played were enough to match the applause of the fans.

Since the reversal of Belgium in the first round of the group stage, Turkey has faced a life-and-death battle, and the players' physical strength and energy have been greatly consumed.

Bloody Turkish players are sometimes too tough to control their emotions and often suffer from red and yellow card suspension.

It is no exaggeration to describe the fatigue of this Turkey. The three lines of the Star and Moon Legion have suffered serious injuries. Rusto is enough to replace Demirel's main goalkeeper, but the absence of Ashke, Settin and Gankel has stretched the team's defense.

Emre's injury caused a big hole in the back position in Turkey, and his substitute Metin was also absent due to a groin injury. In order for the team to function normally, Trim had to pull right-back Altentop and the front waist Tong Chai to the back. Fortunately, the midfielder Aurelio, who was banned for two yellow cards, will return against Germany. He and Topal will form a midfielder combination, and Altentop will return to the more familiar right-back position.

At least the midfield can make up a lot of people, but on the attack line, Trim has reached the point of exhaustion. Nihat's injury made Semihe the only available person on the front line, and the best scorer in the Turkish Super League did not even have a substitute. Tongchayi's breakthrough and Turan's grabbing points are important means of attack in Turkey, but the two will be suspended in the end. "Lalang match" has now become Trim's main business. Perhaps the title of "pot maker" may soon be snatched from Ranelli by Trim.

No matter who is the opponent in the semi-finals, from the current personnel matching and injury situation in Turkey, Turkey obviously cannot be compared with the powerful Germany and Belgium with Degan, but compared with morale, the four consecutive miracles of the Star and Moon Legion are no less than anyone.

Altentop's words best represent the voice of Turkish players: "My mood is hard to describe. If we can go on so confidently, then anything can happen."

Since Danish fairy tales and Greek myths can be staged, Turks are certainly qualified to continue their dreams and let the miracle of Allah come to the European Cup. On the track of making history, they only have two battles to conquer.

After the war between Turkey and Croatia, it will be time for Belgium to play the next day, and Degan will make his debut in the European Cup.

"I can't wait to play now. I don't care who the opponent is. In my opinion, there is only one difference between any opponent. It has been won and is ready to be defeated. People are talking about the German team, thinking that they will regain their form after the team breakout and go all the way down. Go, but what I have to do is tell everyone that even if the Germans play 100% of their combat effectiveness in this game, the only thing they can accept in front of the European Red Devils is the fate of failure!"