It’s Lahm bam for Germany: Last-minute winner brings Germany another major final appearance

With the first and last four minutes of what was an intriguing second half last night,Turkey dared to live the dream.

They had the belief that despite all the injuries and suspensions they could still produce the shock of the tournament with a surprise victory.For all those supporters that were here to witness it was inspired by a player from Leytonstone who made us believe Turkey may just pull it off.

Colin Kazim-Richards or better known as Kazim-Kazim in Turkey,was only playing due to the limited squad Fatih Terim had to pick from,yet it was he who struck the crossbar twice before Ugur Boral managed to grab the second rebound to put the Turks in front.Sadly,now finding themselves in unfamiliar territory,their lead wasn’t to last.

Within five minutes Bastian Schweinsteiger scoed from a stuttering German attack before Klose gave a second blow for the Germans in the 79th minute.When it looked like Turkey were finished,Semih Senturk came up with an 86th minute goal.Just when extra time and penalties seemed inevitable,Philipp Lahm arrived on the 90th minute to give the Germans their place in the final and leave Turkey to reflect on what might have been.

The Germans must wonder just how they had such a fright here from a team in a desperate situation as Turkey.Nine of there regular players were either injured or suspended for this game,leaving Terim a seven man bench with only three fit players.

As a consequence, the Turks were particularly vulnerable at the back and it was no accident that fourthchoice centre-half Mehmet Topal was at fault for Germany’s equaliser and partly to blame for Klose’s goal.

Against an unchanged Germany the Turks nevertheless started the brighter, with Kazim-Richards, 21, doing his utmost to convince anyone watching in England that he is worth bringing back from Fenerbahce.

As well as a fine cross and a shot that tested Jens Lehmann, he sent a thumping effort against the bar before doing it again to set up Turkey’s first goal when Ugur Boral had pounced on the rebound to make Lehmann look a little foolish.

In fairness to Germany they responded after four minutes with what amounted to their first attack. A Lukas Podolski cross was met by Schweinsteiger as he accelerated ahead of Topal with a terrific firsttime shot. Panic over. Game on.

Loew, who later conceded: ‘There were patches when we couldn’t get a grip but we were efficient,’ responded to a desperate first-half display by replacing Simon Rolfes with Torsten Frings and his presence did give the Germans more momentum.

Enough, it has to be said, to earn them what probably should have been a penalty in the 51st minute when Sabri brought down Lahm. Klose’s goal eased the sense of loss, the Germany striker rising majestically to meet a floating cross from Lahm with a super header that not only punished Topal for his indecision but Rustu for racing off his line.

That, however, was far from the end. The tenacious Turks had one more attack in them, and when Sabri crosssed low from the right  Semih sprinted in to beat Lehmann at his near post. Not for the first time last night, the former Arsenal man looked more than a little foolish.

Until, that is, Turkey were beaten, dare it be said, by the leg of Lahm. First came a delightful one-two with Thomas Hitzlsperger and then the decisive finish. Credit to Germany. But credit to Turkey, too.