The first Euro 2008 semi-final took place last night and turned out to be a right old ding dong.

Possession was 50-50, but if anything Turkey appeared to have the slight edge. Considering injuries and suspensions, I really didn’t expect them to put up such a fight.

Turkey looked to attack from the kick-off which again I was surpised by, thinking they would attempt to soak up the pressure for most of the game and then attack in the last 10 minutes; a tactic they employed against Croatia.

But former Sheffield United, Brighton & QPR winger Colin Kazim Kazim-Richards beat Jens Lehmann twice, only to hit the woodwork before Turkey eventually took the lead on 22 minutes. But the breakthrough only lasted minutes, as Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised from close range.

When Miroslav Klose headed Germany into the lead after 79 minutes it really did look like the end of Turkey’s Euro 2008 experience. But Semih Senturk levelled late on and everyone was set for another thrilling 30 minutes. But Germany had time for just one more attack in injury time and Phillip Lahme was put through by a great pass from Thomas Hitzlsperger. Lahme beat goalkeeper Rustu Recber to put Germany through to the Euro 2008 final in Vienna on Sunday where they will play the winners of tonight’s second semi-final between Russia and Spain.

Tipping both Russia and Spain before the competition got under way, I now feel Guus Hiddink & Russia will be brimming with confidence and start as the underdogs, where once again the weight of expectation is firmly on the shoulders of Spain, who for me, have been the best team in the competition.

Germany 3 Turkey 2 - what a great showcase for international football. Let’s hope for another five goal thriller!