Knockout ticket sales via national FAs

Fans of teams reaching the UEFA EURO 2008™ knockout rounds have been advised to contact their national association in order to obtain tickets.
Via the associations
"There has been conjecture that tickets are being sold by [UEFA] for the knockout phase, this is not the case," said Euro 2008 SA media relations officer Pascale Vögeli in Basel on Tuesday. "The only way to obtain tickets now is via the associations – this information was communicated some time ago. The national associations [concerned] are dealing with the sale of their tickets. For the quarter-finals, 6,000 tickets will be available to each participating association, and 6,000 tickets will also go to each association that qualifies for the semi-finals. Fans who do not have their tickets should contact their association."

EURO drama just gets better

The knockout stage is yet to begin and already UEFA EURO 2008™ has provided more twists and turns than an Alpine road.

High drama
A flood of late goals has kept fans guessing to the end throughout the first round, but nothing has matched the drama in Geneva on Sunday when Nihat Kahveci's last-gasp goals turned the Group A finale on its head and sent Turkey through to the quarter-finals at the Czech Republic's expense. The Netherlands' 3-0 win against Italy set the bar high in this tournament and the standard has been maintained ever since, with the quality on show matched in equal measure by high drama and excitement. From Arda Turan's late strike against Switzerland via Gianluigi Buffon's penalty save against Romania to David Villa's winner against Sweden, UEFA EURO 2008™ just gets better and better. How much have you enjoyed it so far and how does it compare to past tournaments?

Ballack setting sights on Portugal

Germany captain Michael Ballack said Portugal are favourites in their quarter-final in Basel after he confirmed his country's progress with a second-half free-kick against Austria in Vienna.
Underdogs
The resulting 1-0 victory in the third round of matches left Germany second in Group B behind Croatia, but above the co-hosts who needed to beat their neighbours to qualify. Carlsberg Man of the Match Ballack was relieved to have made the knockout stage but thinks his side are underdogs in their last-eight tie. "I think Portugal are now the favourites and we've slipped into a different role but who knows – maybe that will favour our game," the midfielder said. "I know several Portugal players, not only from [Chelsea FC] but also from other occasions when we've met. They are very good individually – they play well offensively and don't focus too much on defence. They're a great team, not least because of Ronaldo who's had a great season in England."

Satisfied
The 31-year-old admitted his team have not been at their best in the last two matches but he is now looking forward to the next challenge. "Obviously we're happy to have made it to the quarter-finals, particularly after the difficult match against Croatia," the Chelsea man added. "We had everything to lose when we were certainly favourites to win. You could tell that the team were not as agile because they had tensed up. I'm looking forward to playing Portugal again – we met them in the third-place play-off at the [2006 FIFA] World Cup and I'm looking forward to squaring off against them again. We didn't play as well as we wanted but I'm convinced this victory will give us the push to play even better against Portugal."

Individual difference
Ballack was selected as Carlsberg Man of the Match by the UEFA Technical Team – after they considered the euro2008.com vote – consisting of Andy Roxburgh and Jozef Vengloš. "The game was even, the Austrian team were working hard and pushing, but the winning touch was in the boot of Ballack – his excellent free-kick was the difference," former Czechoslovakia coach Vengloš said. The Germany skipper, who has now scored 37 goals in 84 internationals, praised the team effort, however: "We couldn't expect things to be easy. There was a great atmosphere and it was important that we really fought today. Of course, at the start we should have taken our chances and the game would have been calmer, but we had to fight right until the end."

Nihat enters Turkish football folklore

Scoring two goals in the last three minutes to turn a group-stage exit into a quarter-final berth is not usually part of an international captain's duties. But it was no ordinary night for Nihat Kahveci in Geneva.

Vital goals
Facing the Czech Republic for second place in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group A, Turkey trailed 2-0 and looked down and out. Arda Turan then pulled one back before Nihat – who had criticised his own lack of goals before the game – then had an inspired three minutes, poking in when Petr Čech dropped the ball before racing clear to slot in the winner. Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was subsequently sent off and, like Mehmet Aurélio, will be suspended against Croatia in Vienna on Friday, but the mere fact that Turkey will play that game is a tribute to Nihat, given the Carlsberg Man of the Match award by the UEFA Technical Team.

'Turning point'
Captaining Turkey due to Emre Belözoğlu's injury absence, the Villarreal CF striker said: "Of course I am very happy. Up to the point we went 2-0 down we were not really performing very well but we didn't give up. The first goal we scored was the key, the turning point, as that created concern for the Czechs. Then we took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake and then scored the third. You don't get this sort of game in this tournament very often so the feelings were tremendous. To score that goal and know it would take us to the quarter-finals is an amazing experience. But we always believed we could make it."

Comeback
Just as at UEFA EURO 2000™ and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Turkey have recovered from defeat in their first game – this time against Portugal – to go through thanks to last-gasp wins against Switzerland and the Czechs. "Now we're in the quarter-finals. After the Portugal match only a few people really believed that we could make it, but we continue to make football history," Nihat said. "We know that we have to do some things better. But if we can win a match even if we play badly, then we can beat any team if we play well. This victory is a gift to our nation. These were the most important goals I have ever scored. We played a little bit slowly in the first half but then recovered from that situation after the interval. Now it is time to have fun. We are not afraid of anyone, we can beat Croatia in the quarter-finals."

Engel tribute
A member of the UEFA Technical Study Team, former Poland coach Jerzy Engel, paid tribute to Nihat's display. "At the crucial moments he was always there, trying very hard for 90 minutes," Engel said. "And at the end he gave a fantastic win to his team. This says everything about football. One team goes from heaven to hell; the other, from hell to heaven. This is the beauty of this game. Now the Czechs are crying, but on 75 minutes Turkey were crying. Those who were here in this stadium cannot believe what has happened. And this man, Nihat, changed the game completely."

'Football-Bike' wows Klagenfurt crowd

While Croatian fans in Klagenfurt created an open-air party, it was a German cyclist on a 'Football-Bike' who drew the attention of most of the astounded onlookers.

Croatian masses
More than 30,000 ecstatic Croatian fans catered for an unbelievable atmosphere in the Swiss city on Thursday evening with not only the Wörthersee Stadion but also the UEFA EURO 2008™ Fan Zone floating in a sea of red and white checked flags. However, it was just one of the 10,000 German supporters who stole the show. Didi Senft from Berlin, who is normally an honoured guest at the Tour de France, cycled through the streets on a unique 'Football-Bike', creating a real stir.

Special bike
"I've built more than 200 such bicycles – I put together this one here especially for UEFA EURO 2008™," explained Didi proudly as he displayed his creation – which consists of twelve footballs, a mini-football table and a drum – to the fans. Didi did not have much time for interviews, although he is a man in great demand. He instead preferred to pose with supporters and was delighted to be so acknowledged and take his place in countless Croatian photo albums. He could do little to help Germany stem the tide as they succumbed 2-1 to Croatia but he is expected to make the trip to Vienna for the final group game with his unique 'EURO-Bike' whilst Joachim Löw's side try to turn the wheel of their fortunes.

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