Exorcism

The march of the undead has ended:

Bastian Schweinsteiger: I just won, so who cares if I look stupid?

Scoreline – June 25, 2008
Germany: 3
Schweinsteiger 26'; Klose 79'; Lahm 90'
Turkey: 2
Uğur Boral 22'; Semih Şentürk 86'

Match of the tournament.

The best match I didn't get to see.

Turkey scores early, Germany equalizes minutes later.

Swarming, end-to-end action. Scoring chances, panicked defenders, it was awesome.

And then the TV went black.

The official story was that a lightning strike had knocked out the world feed, but I have a sinking suspicion that God was overcome by the possibility that the Turks would win again and threw something at his TV.

He apparently did this twice, because shortly after the signal was restored, it went dark again.

While we were being shown video of the crowds in Basel, Germany scored. Seven minutes of soccer-free footage later – Turkey scored.

2-2 with four minutes of regulation left.

Having denied the world two goals, God fixes the world feed in time to see the replay of Şentürk's insane equalizer.

Andy Gray summed up the moment perfectly: "…..I'm lost….I'm lost"

So was everybody else. And the game still wasn't done.

Lahm, Germany's under-achieving left back, somehow gets the ball in the 18yard box on a jail break attack – and rockets it into the Turkish goal in the last minute of regulation.

Flat out insanity. The final stake in the heart of the Turks, surely.

God, overcome by the moment – kills the world feed again. We find out that the game is ending by watching the German fans outside the stadium counting down. When they explode into celebration, Andy Gray calls it.

The Turks were a marvel, they made the tournament. And now they are done, beaten by Germany, the founding members of the undead. Pray for Spain.

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Oh yeah, that other match.

I had high hopes for this one. Russia was on a tear, Arshavin was a monster against the Dutch, and Spain had finally conquered their nerves vs. the Italians.

Puyol mobs Fabregas after the win.

Scoreline – June 26, 2008
Russia: 0
Spain: 3
Xavi Hernández 50'; Güiza 73'; Silva 82'

A blowout.

Russia was barely there at all. Lots of scrambling, but Spain owned this one from start to finish. The only drama for me was betting how long it would be before Aragonés would put in Fabregas.

Villa got munched, so Fabregas only had to wait 36 minutes. And it was magic. He's creating, passing doing the same thing he always does.

Two assists on the night, and a danger for more every time he touches the ball.
Tell 'em who he plays for! Arsenal! Damn right.

Russia's attack was gutted in the battle for the midfield and it was just painful to watch. Arshavin was a non-entity- not even a shot on goal.

Spain has banished their national demons so far – but the chronic underachievers have yet to face the biggest obstacle yet – Germany.

It doesn't get harder than Germany. Spain pulls that one off, they're demons are long gone. They lose – and all they've done will be for nothing.