Czech Republic 0-2 Turkey: EURO 2016 Group D Report

The Czech Republic were sent crashing out of the European Championships in Lens tonight as they went down 2-0 to Turkey and subsequently finished bottom of Group D.

Turkey sealed third spot in the group, but will have to hope that the three points they picked up will be enough to see them through to the knockout stages tomorrow night.

The Republic had to make do without captain Tomas Rosicky after his tournament ended early with an injury against Croatia, while Turkey gave starlet Emre Mor a first start of the tournament in an attempt to try.

Fatih Terim’s Turkey kept their slim hopes of reaching EURO 2016’s knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Czech Republic – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

With both teams needing a win, hopes were high for an open game and after just five minutes, Vladimir Darida shot into the side netting for the Czechs.

But it was Turkey who took the lead just four minutes later. Ozan Tufan won possession in midfield and released the talented Mor. His pace down the right-hand side was too much for the recovering defence and he found the perfect cross for Burak Yilmaz to beat Petr Cech at his near post.

The lead was almost cancelled out after a quarter of an hour when Tomas Sivok rose to meet a corner, but his header could only find the foot of the post.

Despite Turkey showing plenty of pace against a somewhat high Czech defence, it was the Republic who started to create the game’s best chances. A slick passing move allowed Pavel Kadeřábek in, but he shot directly at Volkan Babacan in the Turkish goal when a cut-back looked like the best option.

Turkey’s defence was not looking overtly convincing, but the Czech’s couldn’t find their shooting boots with Tomas Necid flicking over from eight yards and Kaderabek not getting enough contact on the ball as he stretched for a cross at the near post.

After 37 minutes, Jaroslav Plašil eventually found range from distance, but his shot was palmed away by Babacan.

Turkey went in at half-time the happier of the two sides, but equally knew the importance of adding to their lead in the second period in order to improve their goal-difference.

They nearly doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Mor once again broke free, but his shot couldn’t find the target.

Striker Necid didn’t manage to score in back-to-back Euro fixtures for the Czechs – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

A minute later, and Darida did find the target for the Czechs, but his low shot was comfortably saved by Babacan. The goalkeeper was again called into action just after the hour mark, saving this time from Necid.

Yet it was Turkey who managed to score the game’s second goal on 64 minutes. The Czechs failed to deal with a Turkish free-kick into the box allowing Mehmet Topal to find Tufan, who rifled the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations on the touchline.

They came close to a third in the 75th minute when Arda Turan headed over as time started to get away from the Czech Republic. For all of the saves that Babacan had made, there was nothing too testing for him and it was the same once more after 80 minutes when Darida shot from long-range.

Two minutes later and Turkey really should have scored a third when the Czechs failed to clear their lines, but substitute Olcay Şahan could only shoot wide.

But after five minutes of injury time elapsed, the Turks celebrated their first win alongside Northern Ireland, who qualify for the knockout stages as a result.

It was a deserved win two, as while the Czech Republic may have created more chances, there was a lack of a cutting edge and some very disorganised defending, the polar opposite to their opponents.

Man of the Match: Emre Mor (Turkey)

Mor’s pace gave the Czech Republic real problems all night and it is to head coach Fatih Terim’s credit that he gave the youngster the opportunity to shine from the start.

Turkey had lacked any real spark in their opening two games, but with Mor on the pitch, they more than made up for it tonight.

Turkey will have to wait for the conclusions of Groups E and F on Wednesday to find out if they have advanced to the knockout stages of EURO 2016 – Photo: Presse Sports / Offside.

What’s Next?

Three points and a minus two goal difference may not be enough for Turkey to make the round of 16, but they will have to wait and see how the final two groups pan out on Wednesday night.

As for the Czech Republic, it’s been a very disappointing tournament for the 1996 runners-up as they exit France without a win to their name.