Substitute Cenk Tosun’s late goal secured victory over a ten-man Czech Republic team as Turkey went through to the round of 16.
Cenk Tosun scored the added-time winner
Cenk Tosun came off the bench to strike deep into added time and give Turkey victory over ten-man Czech Republic in Hamburg – a result that took Turkey into the round of 16 while Czech Republic bowed out.
Key moments
3′: Mert Günok denies Provod
13′: Arda Güler drives over
20′: Barák sent off
45′: Jurásek forces Mert Günok save
51′: Hakan Çalhanoğlu breaks deadlock
66′: Souček turns in equaliser
90+4‘: Cenk Tosun fires winner
Match in brief: Turkey through after gripping finale
Arda Güler: one of Turkey’s brightest young talents
Czech Republic immediately pushed high into the Turkey half from kick-off, with both sides still in round of 16 contention at the start of play but only Ivan Hašek’s team required to win.
Showing their intent, both coaches fielded refreshed attacking lines. Vincenzo Montella deployed 19-year-old duo Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, and 13 minutes in, Arda Güler found space through the middle but fired over from the edge of the Czech Republic box.
When a second yellow card saw Antonín Barák dismissed after 20 minutes – the earliest sending-off in EURO history – Turkey began to take control. Initially rattled, Czech Republic were forced into a compact two-line blockade as Vincenzo Montella’s charges probed for a breakthrough.
However, on the stroke of half-time and against the run of play, David Jurásek motored goalwards down the left to unleash a low drive that forced goalkeeper Mert Günok to drop low and keep the scores level.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu celebrates his first EURO goal
Attempts from Barış Alper Yılmaz and Kenan Yıldız quickly put Czech Republic back under pressure in the second half. And minutes later, as the Czechs scrambled to fend off a relentless Turkey, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu connected sweetly to beat Jindřich Staněk with a fierce strike – his first EURO goal in eight appearances.
However, the brave Czechs were not finished. In an unexpected twist in the 66th minute, Mert Günok failed to gather a Czech Republic long ball, with another inspirational skipper, Tomáš Souček, on hand to steer in the equaliser. Game on!
Both teams were going for the winner and as the game entered added time, subsitute Cenk Tosun cut inside, shimmied beyond two defenders, before finding the bottom corner. Turkey secured their round of 16 spot as Czech Republic exited EURO 2024.
Skipper Souček turned in the equaliser
Vivo Player of the Match: Barış Alper Yılmaz (Turkey)
He was a constant threat in the game, threatening spaces in behind. He was a threat while carrying the ball, and also provided dangerous crosses.
Ondřej Zlámal, Czech Republic reporter
In a difficult position from the start without the injured Patrik Schick, Czech Republic’s situation worsened when they were reduced to ten men. But they showed their spirit, never gave up and stayed in the contest until Cenk Tosun’s late winner. They exit the tournament with their heads held high, yet may be ruing the chances they failed to take against Georgia.
Aydin Güvenir, Turkey reporter
In a match full of suspense, the tempo slowed significantly as Turkey dominated after their opponents had a man dismissed. Czech Republic also had their chances, threatening dangerously in the air from set pieces. An absorbing ending ensued, but Turkey held their nerve and scored late to seal victory and go through in second.
Reaction
Lukáš Provod, Czech Republic midfielder: “We are extremely disappointed. We did not achieve our goal to qualify from the group. We wanted to win, fought for it, gave everything, but we lost.”
Ivan Hašek, Czech Republic coach: “I’m disappointed that we are going home because this team have so much potential for the future. We wanted to show this here. However, the main reason we failed was because we did not beat Georgia [on Matchday 2].”
Turkey celebrate
- Turkey have won each of the last three meetings between these teams.
- Turkey have won all three EURO encounters against Czech Republic. They’ve now won in 2008, 2016 and 2024 – all on Matchday 3 of the group stage.
- Czech Republic have won only three of their last 14 EURO group stage matches (D3 L8).
- None of Czech Republic’s last 27 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored. The last time they were involved in a 0-0 draw was the 1996 semi-final against France, which they went on to win on penalties.
- Czech Republic have only failed to score in one of their last 15 international matches.
- Czech Republic have failed to complete a EURO group stage without a win on only one previous occasion. That was at EURO 2016 when they exited after a draw and two defeats.
- Turkey have won just two of their last 11 EURO matches (D1 L8).
- Turkey have kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 EURO fixtures.
- Turkey are through to the knockout rounds for the third time. They reached the semi-finals in 2000 and the quarter-finals in 2008.
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu made his eighth EURO appearance, bringing him level with Hakan Balta and only one behind Turkey’s leading EURO appearance-maker Rüştü Reçber (9).
- Czech Republic‘s Antonín Barák’s 20th-minute red card is the earliest in EURO history surpassing Eric Abidal’s 24th-minute dismissal for France against Italy in 2008
Line-ups
Czech Republic: Staněk (Kovář 55); Holeš, Hranáč, Krejčí; Coufal, Souček, Provod (Lingr 75), D Jurásek (M Jurásek 81); Chytil (Kuchta 55), Barák, Hložek (Chorý 55)
Turkey: Mert Günok, Mert Müldür, Samet Akaydin, Merih Demiral, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; İsmail Yüksek (Yokuşlu 63), Salih Özcan (Kaan Ayhan 46); Arda Güler (Cenk Tosun 75), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Orkun Kökçü 87), Kenan Yıldız (Aktürkoğlu 75); Barış Alper Yılmaz