Too feverish defensively despite multiple opportunities in its favor, Turkey came out of the Euro head down by conceding a third defeat against a Switzerland (1-3) more efficient and who can still hope to qualify for the round of 16 among the best 3rd. The Turks will return home with their heads bowed with zero points on the clock.
More effective against an opponent who displayed too much defensive largesse, Switzerland got the better of Turkey (3-1) this Sunday when the last day of Group A of the Euro. Predicted on the goal difference by Wales, beaten 1-0 by Italy, the Helvetians finished 3rd with 4 points and will have to wait before knowing if they are qualified in the round of 16.
Unable to beat Wales (1-1) then tamed by Italy (3-0), Switzerland played noticeably big in its third group match against Turkey, but Granit Xhaka and others can breathe: their victory 3 -1 in Baku gives them a glimpse of a qualification in the round of 16 as the best third.
The Swiss have 4 points, a total that allows them to hope to grab one of the four best third qualifying places for the eighth – the verdict will come in the outcome of the other pools by Wednesday.
And the parades of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer did the rest against desperate Turks and finally eliminated without glory: three matches, three defeats, eight goals conceded, and no points taken, a slap for a Turkish selection who dreamed of being an outsider at the start of tournament…
In physical difficulty, the Turks seemed closer than ever to breaking up. Yet it was at this time that Kahveci reduced the score with a marvel of striking wound in the skylight (2-1, 62nd). The first Turkish goal of this Euro !
