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Decisive game in Geneva will see Czech Republic and Turkey in direct duel solving the question of who will join Portugal in the quarterfinals. It is a rare situation that wee see two squads about to play the key game to be equal not just in points but also in goal difference and in the number of conceded and scored goals.

In other words this means that the penalties will decide in case they draw. Both sides fear such an outcome, the Czech have a better keeper but this doesn’t have to mean anything. Turkey are encouraged by the Champions League round of 16 when national squad keeper Volkan Demirel took Fenerbahce to the quarterfinals after a successful penalties series against Spanish Seville.

We should mention that these two sides can be optimistic if we take a look at their performance so far in the tournament – both seem to be in form. Before the beginning of the championship, Czech Republic were considered favourites but we think that we made a mistake underestimating the Turks.

Fatih Terim’s side rose form the ashes in the second half against Switzerland and got back in the game.

Turkey and Czech Republic have met each other on 14 previous occasions with Czech Republic winning 10 times and Turkey once.

Czech Republic are unbeaten in 11 consecutive encounters with Turkey (nine wins and two draws).

This will be their first meeting at a European Championship.

Team facts - Turkey

Wednesday's 2-1 win against Switzerland was only Turkey's second victory in nine European Championship matches.

Since the introduction of the knock-out stages in 1984, seven teams have survived the group stage after losing their opening match. Turkey achieved this feat at Euro 2000, where they reached the quarter-final despite losing their opening match of the tournament.

Team facts - Czech Republic

Since the introduction of the knock-out stages in 1984, there have been seven occasions on which a team failed to qualify for the next round despite winning the first group match.

Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Portugal ended a streak of six straight wins in competitive matches and an unbeaten run of eight matches.

A penalty shoot-out could be necessary to decide who qualifies for the next round. Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic have been involved in three penalty shoot-outs in European Championships, winning all three. They beat West Germany in the 1976 final, Italy in the 1980 bronze medal match and France in the 1996 semi-final.

Player facts - Turkey

Tuncay Sanli, Mehmet Aurelio, Hakan Balta, Gokhan Zan, Colin Kazim-Richards and Sabri Sarioglu will miss a possible quarter-final match if they receive a yellow card.

Player facts - Czech Republic

Libor Sionko has scored three goals in the Czech Republic's last three matches. He scored twice in their warm-up friendly against Scotland (3-1) and also scored in the 3-1 defeat against Portugal.

Jan Polak is the only Czech player with a yellow card behind his name.

Miscellaneous Info

• Referee Peter Frojdfeldt has been in charge of one match involving Turkey. In June 2007 he led their European Championship qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which Turkey lost 3-2.

• Under a new system introduced by tournament organisers UEFA at these finals, if the pair draw their Group A match at the Stade de Geneve there will be a shootout after 90 minutes to decide who qualifies as runners-up behind Portugal.

• Turkey have a lengthy injury list and captain Emre (hamstring) and central defender Gokhan Zan (knee) are almost certain to miss out. Gokhan's defensive partner Servet Cetin is also struggling with a knee problem.

Player to watch :

Milan Baros (Czech) : The Euro 2004 golden boot winner showed glimpses of his best form in the 3-1 defeat to Portugal, and is his side's main goal threat.

Arda Turan (Turkey) : The Galatasaray winger scored the goal that sent co-hosts Switzerland out of the tournament and has been linked with a move to Newcastle.

Possible Line Up  :

Czech : Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Sionko, Polak, Matejovsky, Plasil, Baros, Koller.

Subs : Blazek, Skacel, Zitka, Jarolim, Sverkos, Sivok, Galasek, Pospech, Kadlec, Kovac, Fenin, Vlcek

Manager: Karel Bruckner

Turkey : Volkan, Balta, Asik, Servet, Altintop, Turan, Aurelio, Metin, Karadeniz, Nihat, Tuncay.

Subs : Ayhan, Rustu, Senturk, Sabri, Gungor, Erding, Topal, Tolga, Boral, Kazim

Injured : Emre, Gokhan

Manager: Fatih Terim

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