"Euro 2008 match prior - Croatia v Turkey"

The Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna will be a glorious day backdrop for the second Euro 2008 quarter-finals as Croatia and Turkey battle for the right to assemble last night winners Germany in the last four.

Last night's classic encounter between Germany and Portugal already lifted the lofty level of football in this competition to new heights, and enthusiasts from all over the continent are expected over the same tonight in one of Europe most cultured cities.

It is only the third meeting between the two nations since Croatia joined the Fifa in 1992. Easily the most important was the game at Euro 96, that Croats won 1-0. It should be noted that the current Turkey coach Fatih Terim's team is also responsible at that time during his first spell as manager, while the Croatia coach Slaven Bilic was playing in the centre half.

Does this prove to be an omen for tonight is crucial match? Whatever happens, history will be - both teams have never advanced beyond the quarterfinals phase, a fact that has to change tonight. Bilic and his team have won many friends and admirers in the past two years and his rise to the top of Europe's coaching tree has been meteoric. Won 44 caps for his country as a player, Bilic took over the national side in 2006 following a successful spell in charge of the U21s Croatia.

He took with him his backroom staff of former colleagues in the national team Aljosa Asanovic and Robert Prosinecki, and quickly became Croatia in Europe one of the best teams. The self-confidence His mixture of youth, experience, technical ability, tactical awareness and supreme self-confidence proved too much for England in the qualifying campaign.

A 2-0 victory in Zagreb left the English press bemused, bewildered and embarrassed, but the Croatian players showed that it was not chance of winning 3-2 at Wembley - a game that is meaningless for the Croats already qualified but fatal importance for England and now left their former coach, Steve McClaren. The usual myopia, shaking his fist post-mortem was conducted by the English media following the defeats, even more English fans and journalists not to see the simple truth - that, for all of England considerable shortcomings, Croatia is a wonderful football side.

Having defeated the Germans in the group phase, a result that seems all the more impressive after the defeat of Germany to convince Portugal last night, even the most cynical of skeptics are beginning to recognize the quality of men Bilic. A unit on the Croats on the pitch, which reflects the relationship players have with his coach and his backroom staff.

Some of the biggest players in the workforce, as the Kovac brothers, played in the national team with Bilic and his assistants during the late 1990, while the young players have been a mentor and guide them for several years through his initial involvement with the U21. His style of play directly reflects its coach, a lawyer who speaks four languages and plays guitar for a banda de rock in his spare time.

The music and the slope that leads wherever they go proudly suggests that he possesses an artistic and whimsical streak to go with his obvious intelligence, concentration and passion for his embryonic nation. In the field Croats show the same qualities through its fluid movement, technical adventure, iron determination and self belief that guests are important in European football's most exclusive parties.

They have undeniably is the strongest tournament has progressed. A nervous victory against co-hosts Austria in their opening match was followed by the glorious triumph over the Germans, while their 1-0 victory over Poland is undoubtedly equally impressive due to the fact that Croatia were already qualified, Poland had to win to stand any chance of qualification for the knockout phase and Bilic rested nine of their best players.

The result showed two things - Bilic's ability to motivate fringe players and strength in depth of the Croatian squad, something that was questioned by almost all sectors of the media before the tournament. Croatia will be comfortable favourites for tonight's game, in which Bilic is likely to return to the party that beat Germany last week.

Being the hope that the elegant, Tottenham-bound midfielder, Luke Modric (of which only Bilic claims Kaka is superior in a playmaker role), maintained his excellent form, and that the much travelled striker Ivica Olic Hamburg can still replace magnificently in advance for absentee Eduardo Arsenal. The defense must not ignore - with a single goal to give the group stage, Holland is the only record compared to theirs.

The only injury doubt, in relation to men broad Ivan Rakitic and Darijo Srna have been dispelled. "We are not complacent and we will not stop," Bilic told the press on Thursday after being asked if he was satisfied with his team's progress. "We intend to go as far as possible. Of course we are under pressure and the pressure is increasing, but it's a positive pressure and we welcome it. You can only motivate us."

Bilic also had a word of warning to his players in terms of their opponents tonight and never-say-die attitude that helped them overcome enormous odds in their last match of the group, a dramatic 3-2 victory over the well-fancied Czech Republic. "The results of Turkey and how they were reached in shows how strong they are," he said. "They have good morals and not give up. It is laudable, but also shows they have a weakness. Nobody wants to track in every game and have to go back."

Russian Mountain As recognized Bilic, is Turkey who have had their fans to the roller coaster largest so far in the finals. That fell behind each of their Group A matches, failing to turn the tide in an opening defeat to group winners Portugal, but again increasing danger in the coming games against Switzerland and the Czechs. This last game, they had to win to guarantee qualification, saw overcome a 2-0 deficit and sending goalkeeper Volkan Demirel in the last fifteen minutes to defeat their more fancied rivals 3-2. T

he party has already called 'The miracle of Geneva "by the German press and has been the most dramatic of the finals so far. As with the Croats, the Turkish squad are a reflection of their manager, the pugnacious Fatih Terim, who enjoys his second season as team leader. He is a former captain determined in Turkey, their motivation and skills are well known across Europe thanks to his appearances in Italy as director of the Serie A, four consecutive league titles in Galatasaray in the late 90 and its defeat Arsenal Wenger at Arsenal in the 2000 final of the Uefa Cup, when Gala became the first club turkish to win a European title.

Terim is likely to return to club football after the finals, and will be no surprise if it ends in one of Europe's biggest clubs. The Turkey coach has several first-class players to choose from for tonight's game, although suspensions Mehmet Aurelio in midfield and goalkeeper Demirel it causes a slight headache. Colin Kazim-Richards, once of Sheffield United and Bury, could be given his first start in place of Aurelius, while veteran goalkeeper Rustu Recber may replace Demirel - becoming the oldest player ever in the European Championship and earn his 117th cap in the process.

Turkey has eight players a yellow card away from suspension and the staff have received more letters than any other in the finals so far. With injuries to four of their other players, including experienced and influential midfielder Emre Belozoglu, Terim undoubtedly be deposited their hopes of progression in his forwards.

Fenerbahce's Semih Senturk, Tuncay Sanli from Middlesbrough and Villarreal have impressed Nihat Kahveci, while the Galatasaray midfielder Arda Turan Goalscoring has been a revelation. All must be in the song tonight if the Turks are to have any chance of making the semi-finals for the first time in its history. "We will have no excuses," said Terim media on Wednesday. "No matter who plays in the rear, in the center of the field or in advance. The important thing is how the players perform, not the names on their shirts. All of our injured players are important to us, but their replacements are equally so ".

"For once we hope that we can start the game, but if we are not ready for 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalties, and we lost none of our courage." By Mark Robinson Likely teams: Croatia: Pletikosa; Corluka, R Kovac, Simunic, Pranjic; Srna, Modric, N Kovac, Rakitic; Kranjcar; Olic Turkey: Rustu; Altintop, Emre Asik, Gokhan Zan, Hakan Balta; Mehmet Topal, Kazim-Richards, Arda Turan, Tuncay; Nihat, Semih Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Ita)