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Turkey, which entered the European championships with 40-1 odds to win the tournament, scored a 3-1 penalty kicks victory over Croatia to set up a semifinal match with record three-time champion Germany. After scoring decisive goals late in its last two matches against Switzerland and the Czech Republic, Turkey stunned Croatia when substitute Semih Senturk crashed in a shot with the last kick of the 120-minute match at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna to force the shootout. Ivan Klasnic’s header a minute earlier appeared to have sent Turkey out. The Turks now move to Switzerland for its game against Germany on June 25 in Basle. Turkey beat the Swiss 2-1 in its second game and then managed to come from 2-0 down to edge the Czechs 3-2, with Nihat Kahveci netting twice in the final three minutes. It lost the opener 3-0 to Portugal. Croatia manager Slaven Bilic said Turkey’s win owed to “something special” that has surrounded them in this tournament and that his team was stronger in open play. He said the timing of Senturk’s goal destroyed his players’ confidence.

Midfielder Luca Modric, praised by Bilic for his play in the tournament, missed Croatia’s first penalty. He slid the ball wide to the right and Arda Turan scored for Turkey. After Darijo Srna and Senturk made their teams’ second kicks, Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic fired his attempt wide. Altintop converted to give Turkey a 3-1 lead and goalkeeper Rustu Recber, playing only because first choice Volkan Demiral was suspended, then dived to stop a shot from Mladen Petric. His save ended the shootout, sending Turkish fans and players into celebration and the Croatian players down on their knees in the center circle. Minutes earlier, it was the Croatians who danced wildly, having scored the game’s first goal in the 30th minute of extra time. The team’s entire bench, led by gray-suited coach Bilic, stormed onto the field to celebrate Klasnic’s header.

Terim said he will have to asses the damage of last night’s victory at the team hotel today. Frontline striker Nihat Kahveci limped out with a thigh problem and Tuncay Sanli, Turan and Emre Asik will all miss the Germany game through suspension after receiving yellow cards. Turkey’s best previous European finish came when it reached the quarterfinals in 2000. It then went on to finish in third place at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.