Turkey and the Czech Republic set a new card record in their final group match. Referee Istvan Kovacs showed 18 yellow cards and two reds in Turkey's 2:1 victory.
Never before have so many cards been handed out in a match at a European Championship as on Wednesday evening in Hamburg. The Turks picked up eleven yellow cards, the Czechs seven yellows and two reds. The previous record in a European Championship match was ten yellow cards.
The flood of cards no longer has any immediate consequences for the eliminated Czechs. The Turks, who reached the knockout round for the first time since 2008, paid a high price. Captain and 1-0 goalscorer Hakan Calhanoglu, of all people, received his second caution of the tournament, as did defender Samet Akaydin. Both are therefore suspended for Tuesday evening's round of 16 match against Austria.
Turkish national coach Vincenzo Montella was particularly annoyed by Calhanoglu's yellow card for complaining after the Czech equalizer. "As captain, Hakan is obliged to get explanations," said the coach.
Without Calhanoglu and Akaydin, Turkey had to make up for lost ground against Austria in Leipzig. Montella's team lost 1:6 in a test match in Vienna. "One of the heaviest defeats in history", said the daily newspaper "Hürriyet".
