It has come down to this in Group A. Coming into this match, both Turkey and the Czech Republic have the same number of points (6). Both also have the same goal difference.
If this continues to be like this at the end of the full-time with a draw, penalty shootout time to decide who will join Portugal in the quarter-finals. No added extra-time. The Czech Republic had been there before as the former Czechoslovakia in 1976 when they were up against the then-West Germany in the final (it was the first time penalty shootout was introduced). There was only once when Germany lost in a penalty shootout (oh yes, all you England fans out there, it has happened before to the Germans), and it was in the 1976 European Championship final against the then-Czechoslovakia as the then-West Germany. It has never happened before to Turkey.
The man who scored the eventual penalty to break the West Germans hearts was AntonÃn Panenka. Definitely a case of practice makes perfect as it was in his time and as for the current side?
Alright, I know Petr Cech lost the Champions League with his club Chelsea to Manchester United on penalties but then when Cech was at the U-21 level, the Czech Republic won the 2002 U-21 European Championship on penalties and he was at goal then. But whatever it may be when his side up against Turkey, both sides will be aiming of not heading into the penalty shootout.
In fact, Turkey coach Fatih Terim proudly declared that they did not practise penalties at all. While the Czech Republic had found their possible penalty takers (because they did practised their penalties in training). For the Czech Republic captain Tomas Ujfanlusi, he insisted his side will win.
On the team-news front, Turkey have an injury list. Captain Emre Belozoglu is almost certain to miss out. Gokhan's defensive partner Servet Cetin is also struggling with a knee problem. Adapted those two statements before this from Reuters.
History is on the Czech Republic side, and the Czechs will want to banish the memories of the 1996 and the 2004 versions. Lost in the 1996 final by a golden goal against eventual champions Germany, 2004 by the silver-goal rule against eventual champions Greece in the semi-final. This time, Geneva will be at the centre of attention when Turkey and the Czech Republic will be battling it out to join Portugal and get out of the group stages.
