Turkey coach Fatih Terim (left) celebrates after the final whistle when his team won 2-0 in the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match against the Czech Republic at the Bollaert stadium in Lens
Turkey rebounded from two losses at the European Championship to beat the Czech Republic 2-0 and keep alive its chances of reaching the knockout stages from Group D.
With their team having failed to score in its defeats to Spain and Croatia, some Turkish fans celebrated with firecrackers and flares that landed on the pitch after the second goal at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Turkey must now wait until the final group matches are played today to discover whether it can advance as one of the four best third-place teams. Croatia won Group D after beating two-time defending champion Spain 2-1 to finish with seven points.
Spain has six points, Turkey has three and the Czechs are eliminated with one point, 20 years after their team reached the final and 40 years after becoming European champions as Czechoslovakia.
Both teams in Lens yesterday needed a win to advance.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim stuck by striker Burak Yilmaz, despite his disappointing performances in earlier matches, and the act of faith paid off.
Yilmaz struck early, rounding off a swift counter attack just 10 minutes into the game. Emre Mor broke down the right flank before crossing for Yilmaz, who beat Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech at the near post with a first-time right shot.
“I am very happy, I scored a very important goal in a deciding game,” Yilmaz said. “It’s been a good night and a good goal for me. I hope we’ll advance.”
As the Czechs pushed forward, they also opened up their defense for the Turkish attack.
Ozan Tufan doubled the lead in the 65th minute, hammering a rising shot past Cech from close range following a free kick by Selcuk Inan.
“It’s a huge disappointment for us,” Cech said.
Ahead of the tournament, the Arsenal keeper had said he would decide after Euro 2016 whether to retire from international football. He didn’t immediately comment on it Tuesday.
For Turkey, there is still hope.
“If we advance, we can do what we did in Euro 2008, because our confidence is growing now,” Terim said. Karel Janicek, Lens, AP
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