Turkey keeps alive its hopes in Euro 2008

The result also means that Portugal, who earlier beat Czech Republic 3-1, became the first team to reach the quarter-finals and top of the group, with six points ahead of the Czechs and Turkey on three and the Swiss last with no points.    Â

Turkey's fortunes at the European Championship changed as suddenly as the weather in Basel, the AP reported.

The Turks were struggling badly in Wednesday’s group match against Switzerland, the tournament co-hosts having adapted far more readily to the heavy rain that left large puddles on the St. Jakob Park field and stopped the ball rolling anywhere near as far as it normally would, it added.

Switzerland look the lead during the downpour, but the rain eased in the second half and Turkey's game improved as the surface water subsided.

Hakan Yakin put the home side ahead during the rain, reacting quickly after a cross from 19-year-old Eren Derdiyok got stuck in a large puddle in front of goal. Like Yakin, Derdiyok is a Swiss of Turkish origin.

"I did wish for the rain to stop," Turkey coach Fatih Terim said. "I did pray to God for that." Â

Terim started with Nihat Kahveci as a lone forward ahead of a trio of supporting midfielders, modifying the team after a 2-0 opening defeat against Portugal with the aim of keeping more possessions.

And it worked until about 15 minutes into the game, with Turkey forcing its first corner kick as early as the second minute and Arda Turan and Kahveci both testing the defense with crosses into the area.

HEAVY RAIN

Then came the rain.

Turkey’s players seemed to find it much harder than the Swiss to judge how far the ball would now travel and seemed confused as to what to do. Instead of mixing in long, high passes like their opponents did, they persisted with short passes that often failed to meet their intended targets.

As the pitch got wetter, it got harder to execute that plan and most of Turkey’s attacking attempts ended with counterattacks from the Swiss.

Hakan Yakin put the home side ahead during the rain, reacting quickly after a cross from 19-year-old Eren Derdiyok got stuck in a large puddle in front of goal. Like Yakin, Derdiyok is a Swiss of Turkish origin.

But Terim got what he prayed for after halftime.

Substitute Semih Senturk equalized when he headed in a cross in the 57th minute and Arda Turan scored in the second minute of injury time to earn a 2-1 win.

Following the victory over Switzerland, Terim said he was hopeful for quarterfinals. "We are still in Euro 2008 and we still have hopes," Terim said.

"I earlier said that the tournament would begin with the Switzerland match for us. Now it is good to start with three points."

If the match had been abandoned because of bad weather it would have been replayed the next day, UEFA said on Thursday.

"If the referee and the match delegate had thought at any time the pitch was unplayable or that conditions were becoming too dangerous for the players, they of course would have interrupted the match or abandoned it," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard was quoted by Reuters as saying. Â

"Luckily the rain largely stopped by halftime. The weather improved in the second half and we were very impressed with the way the drainage system coped with the amount of water on the pitch," he added.

"But if it had been abandoned it would have been replayed with a 3pm kickoff on Thursday."

AFTER MATCH SCUFFLES

Swiss police made around 80 arrests late Wednesday following incidents between supporters after the match, the AFP reported.

According to police sources on Thursday arrests were made in three separate locations - in Aarau, Berne and Basel.

In Aarau in the north of the country around 200 Swiss provoked scuffles with a group of nearly 400 Turkish fans who had been celebrating their teams win. Over 200 police officers moved in and made 14 arrests.

In Berne, around 20 people were arrested after incidents between fans of both Turkey and Switzerland. Members of a right-wing extremist Swiss group also threw bottles at police, who responded by firing rubber bullets.

In Basel 25 fans of both teams were arrested after incidents erupted.

SWEDISH REFEREE

Turkey will meet Czech Republic in their final Group A game in Geneva on Sunday. Swedish Peter Frojdfeldt will be the referee of Sunday's game.

The oldest referee in the European Championship 2008, 45-year old Frojdfeldt, refereed the 2008 UEFA Cup Final game, played in Manchester, United Kingdom.

A penalty shootout will decide who advances to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals if they draw.

It would be the first time a shootout will have been used to decide a group game in a major tournament.

Photo: AA