Bilic says quarter-final defeat will haunt Croatia forever
Saturday, 21 Jun 2008 08:52
Slaven Bilic admits pain of Euro 2008 penalties exit to Turkey
Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has admitted the shock nature of his side's Euro 2008 exit to Turkey is difficult to take.
After an Ivan Klasnic goal just before the end of the second period of extra-time, Croatia has looked certain to progress to the semis with just seconds to play.
But after Semih Senturk smashed in a volley with the final kick of the game to equalise, momentum swung in Turkish favour.
And with Luca Modric and Ivan Rakitic each missing their penalties, Turkish goalkeeper Rustu's save of the deciding spot kick from Mladen Petric put Fatih Terim's men through.
Speaking afterwards, Bilic said he wished to congratulate both teams for a superb game of football.
"This match shows why it's the most dramatic and most popular game in the world," he went on.
"I congratulate Turkey but we have beaten better opponents and the last two minutes I cannot begin to describe, both our goal and theirs and then penalties.
"The pain of this defeat will stay with me for a long time. It will haunt us forever."
Bilic had been heavily involved in the Klasnic's late goal and admitted: "I thought that it was finished, that we had won".
"Then in a flash this fantastic goal by Semih," the former West Ham player went on.
"After that, it was the drama of penalties. Oh well life goes on. Tomorrow is another day. We will now get back into the groove in the World Cup qualifiers."
Turkey now face a mammoth task against Germany in the semi-finals having lost several players to injury and four to suspensions, three of whom earned their bans on Friday night.