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Updated Tuesday August 8, 2000, 9:51 PM GMT Full-time Report: Sweden v Turkey Preview | Half-time Report | Full-Time Report | Match Stats Italy were the only victors from the worst game of Euro 2000 so far as the Swedes and Turks cancelled each other out in Eindhoven - virtually ensuring that both are soon on their way home.
Turkey at least claimed their first ever point at this level - they lost all three group matches at Euro 96 - having been unlucky not to share the spoils with Italy in their opener, losing to a disputed penalty. Neither team really deserved to win but Sweden should have got a penalty however late in the first half. Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg collected a Teddy Lucic pass with only Turkish goalkeeper Recber to beat but had his heels clipped by Suat Kaya as he pulled his foot back to shoot. Suat was doubly lucky not to be penalised by Dutch referee Dick Jol. Not only did the incident deserve a penalty but the Turkish player was already on a yellow card. Sweden, who lost their opening match to Belgium 2-1, might have hoped for more but were also hampered when star striker Kennet Andersson did not reappear after the interval due to an ankle injury. Turkey and Sweden both made four changes for this group B match where defeat for either side would have almost certainly spelled elimination, with the Turks handing a debut to Leicester City's Muzzy Izzet. The first real chance fell to the Swedes after three minutes. Kennet Andersson, teed up by Hakan Mild, forced Turkey keeper Rustu Recber to palm the ball away from his left hand post from a free-kick. On the half-hour, a Henrik Larsson backheel earned Andersson another opportunity on the left but Recber, up to the task, blocked the ball at the near post in the best move of the half. Turkey threatened rarely. Umit Davala failed to connect a shot for Turkey, striker Arif Erdem hit a bicycle kick high over the bar with his left foot and Okan Buruk, who scored against Italy, shot lamely left of goal. Just seconds before half-time, injured Umit also had to depart when he was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Tayfun Korkut for a straight swap in right midfield. Kennet Andersson could not continue the second half and Jorgen Pettersson, who started against Belgium, came on up front. Gary Sundgren hit a free-kick straight into Rustu's arms after Suat had fouled Pettersson. Larsson put Niclas Alexandersson through moments later but he was offside. Turkey coach Mustafa Denizli and Sweden's joint coaches Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback decided to make some changes as they looked to make a breakthrough. Sergen Yalcin came on for Izzet, who appeared to have picked up a knock, and Tugay came on to take Ogun Temizkenoglu's sweeper role as well as his skipper's armband. With 20 minutes to go Turkey should have gone ahead. Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman did well to parry a Sergen Yalcin shot, swerving away from his right hand, and Okan held his head in his hands after shooting the rebound over the bar. In the 86th minute, Hakan Unsal fired straight across goal in a scare for Sweden. Suat brought down Ljungberg but Pettersson fired the resulting free-kick high over the bar and, at the other end, Hakan Sukur did not quite connect with a header in the dying seconds.
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RELATED Sweden Team Page Turkey Team Page |
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