>>I just turned off my TV after that goal came at last minute. Turned on with screams came from street. That's really unbelievable. We came-backed at last seconds in last two matches.
>>
>>Hmmm... I remember a friend there he talked about Croatia-Romania final... :))))))))))))
>
>I have been recording the quarterfinals and watching them in the evening. To me it was 115 minutes of dull football (I'm sure you disagree) and then one of the wildest finishes you will ever see. With time running down in the second extra period and Turkey trailing 0-1, the English language announcers even said it was too late for another miracle finish. Whoops! Once it went to penalty kicks I knew they were going to win. (Croatia's kickers must have known it, too, the way they CHOKED).
>
>It doesn't look good for the next match, going up against Germany with three more players lost to yellow cards. But I don't think many will be writing off their chances. Turkey has been the pleasant surprise of the tournament.
>
>PS -- Can anyone tell me why England wasn't in the tournament?


Two reasons IMHO.

1 Steve McClaren, an inept manager promoted beyond his competence.

2. The proportion of English players in the top flight of UK football is has fallen dramatically. Leaving a smaller pool of talent to draw from. This at a time when 3 of the last 4 in the European Cup (a club competition) where English sides and the final was all English.

Incidentally none of the Home Countries qualified England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland.
The quality of football in the championship has been mainly excellent with open exciting games so I guess we aren't missed much.