Turkey triumph in Cascina

By Paul Saffer at Stadio Simone Redini

Turkey advanced to the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final as they underlined their reputation as the most talented attacking force in this competition against Croatia.

Talent shines
Özgürcan Özcan struck with a goal in each half, and although substitute Grgur Radoš pulled one back, Murat Duerer's header booked Turkey a place in Saturday's showpiece in Pontedera along with entry into the FIFA U-17 World Championship in September.

Sole change
Turkey coach Abdullah Avci named the same players that started the 5-1 win against Belarus that helped them to second place in Group A. Croatia trainer Ivan Gudelj made only one switch from the Group B-clinching 5-2 victory against Switzerland, Haris Mehmedagic replacing Danijel Rasic in defence, as he had done halfway through Sunday's encounter when his side trailed.

Strong breeze
Aided by a following wind, Turkey, with their close passing game based around midfield pivot Nuri Sahin, settled the quicker. Croatia relied on more direct tactics with longer balls sometimes going astray in the tricky conditions.

Turkey ahead
Caner Erkin forced Croatia goalkeeper Ivan Kelava to save on 17 minutes, and soon Turkey's dominance paid dividends. Caner Erkin laid back for Erkan Ferin to curl in a cross from the right, Croatia having not long before been forced to replace left-back Krešo Ljubicic with Mateas Delic, and Özcan volleyed in at the far post. Erkin then chipped just over as Turkey continued to impress before the break.

Wind advantage
Deniz Yilmaz shot across the face of goal seconds into the half. But Croatia had recovered from 1-0 half-time deficits to defeat Israel and the Swiss comfortably, and now having the breeze behind them they pushed forward.

Özcan again
However, on the hour they were hit by a sucker punch as Erkin's shot from distance deflected off Davor Spehar into the path of Özcan, who made no mistake. Gudelj introduced Radoš, and within a minute the substitute picked the ball up outside the area and curled a shot beyond Volkan Babacan and into the corner of the net.

Victory secure
Now Croatia were full of life and Kalinic and Milan Badelj went close. But substitute Duruer stole away from his markers to head in a Nuri free-kick eight minutes from time to secure victory, with Turkey also relieved that none of their four players on yellow cards before today were booked. Croatia now face a third-place play off on Saturday in Santa Croce sull'Arno, with the last World Championship berth at stake.