Turkey v Czech Republic

Jun 15 2008 By Mark Guidi And Gordon Waddell

TURKEY and the Czech Republic could make history tonight with a nerve-shredding winner-takes-all shootout in Geneva.

Both countries have three points from their opening two games, have identical goal difference as well as the same goals for and against.

So if they draw tonight then under a new UEFA rule they would go straight into a penalty shoot-out for the right to join Portugal in the quarter-finals.

UEFA General Secretary David Taylor - the former SFA chief executive - explained: "In previous Finals if the teams were level on points and goals then it came down to Fair Play and co-efficient.

"We have now changed that rule and if the Czech Republic and Turkey draw they will go straight into a penalty shoot-out without extra-time.

"That is much more exciting and would be the first time this has happened at this stage of the tournament."

With so much riding on the game Turkey boss Fatih Terim is leaving nothing to chance in his preparations.

Having squeezed past Switzerland on a sodden pitch on Wednesday in a game that came close to being abandoned because of the rain Terim readied his side for more of the same in training yesterday.

With another downpour forecast the coach had Turkey's training pitch drowned by hoses to help his side set up the kind of tactics they'll need to adopt when their passing gets clogged up on a waterlogged pitch.

As well as the weather Terim also has injuries to concern him.

Already three men down after the opener with Portugal he has Emre, Hakan Balta, Tumer Metin and Gokdeniz Karadeniz as doubts for the Czech showdown.

But the defiant boss said: "All that matters after what happened against Switzerland is we're still in it and still have our faith that we can qualify."

Meanwhile, Czech keeper Petr Cech admits he's desperate to avoid another do-or-die downer in a major tournament.

The Chelsea No.1 was left gutted two years ago at the World Cup when his side lost a similar all or nothing group clash against eventual champs Italy.

And Cech said: "I don't want to experience that kind of disappointment again.

"It's a one-off game and everything is at stake. We must make sure it is us who come out on top this time."

HEAD TO HEAD

TURKEY will be faced with yet another bogey team in their final Group A game when they take on the Czech Republic.

In their opener eight days ago the Turks failed to end more than half a century without a win against Portugal.

Next up are the Czechs whom Turkey have never beaten.

The countries have played four friendlies but this will be their first competitive clash.

March 1, 2006:

Turkey 2 (Karan 2) Czech Rep 2

(Poborsky, Stajner)

April 30, 2003:

Czech Rep 4 (Rosicky, Koller, Baros, Smicer) Turkey 0

March 26, 1996:

Czech Rep 3 (Suchoparek, Kuka 2) Turkey 0

February 23, 1994:

Turkey 1 (Saglam) Czech Rep 4 (Novotny, Latal 2, Siegl)