Portugal qualifies for quarters| Turkey stunn swiss

Portugal became the first team to qualify for the Quarterfinals of Euro 2008 as they defeated czech republic 3-1 in their second match.



“We are among the best eight squads in Europe,” Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. “Of course, we want more than that.”

At the end of the first half the match was equally poised at 1-1. Scolari said "I was unhappy with that"

After a brilliant save from Cech the ball deflected and went straight to Deco who scored the first goal.

Ronaldo’s first goal for Portugal since October was the winner. It came in the 63rd minute off a brilliant pass by playmaker Deco, who scored Portugal’s first goal. Substitute Ricardo Quaresma clinched it in injury time off a pass from Ronaldo.

Scolari was impressed with the work of Deco.

“Deco has been having some great games with the national team and also is in an excellent moment physically,” Scolari said. “This is the Deco that I want. Nobody tries as hard as Deco. He makes mistakes because he tries more. I hope he keeps making the mistakes he did today, because then he will keep doing what he did today.”

Czechs were confident of making it to the next stage said their coach.

Swiss stunned

Turkey coach Fatih Terim’s calls for heavenly help were answered when the rains let up. His squad took care of the rest.

Arda Turan scored in injury time Wednesday to give Turkey a 2-1 win over Switzerland that eliminated the co-hosts from the European Championship.

Turan scored in the second minute of injury time, sending a right-footed shot from outside the area that deflected in off Switzerland defender Patrick Mueller. That capped a comeback that began after the torrential downpour of the first half stopped.


“I did wish for rain to stop. I did pray to God for that,” said Terim, who first thought the rain would help his team. “We couldn’t predict mud in the middle of the summer.”

Substitute Semih Senturk also scored for Turkey, heading in a cross in the 57th minute. Hakan Yakin had given Switzerland the lead during the heaviest rain in the 32nd.

“It’s not easy to come back from a goal down at the European Championship, considering we hit the woodwork once,” Terim said. “But we fought a lot in the second half and we created many opportunities.”

Switzerland became only the second European Championship host eliminated before the final four. Euro 2000 co-host Belgium also failed to get through the group stage.