Senegal runs into red brick wall as Turks find the hole

The match swung from end to end as both sides deployed their full creative potential. Many thought Turkey would use their cruder, rougher game to unsettle the giant-killers but instead they opted for some clever passing, relying on their speed and strength.

What they lacked, though, was the finishing touch; the match could have been wrapped up in the first half itself as almost half a dozen clear chances went abegging in front of Tony Sylva’s goal.

Instead, Turkey had little to show for their domination of that half — they enjoyed 61 per cent of the possession and a majority of the chances but just couldn’t convert.

At the other end, Senegal’s feared strike force of Diouf and Fadiga were having an off-day, their radar clearly not on the same wavelength. They employed some neat tricks and flicks and some clever one-touch play but couldn’t string together more than three or four passes at one time.

The midfield belonged to Turkey, as did the flanks. Hasan Sas was superb; he was everywhere, nominally down Turkey’s right flank but choosing to rove at will, drawing defenders to him and causing chaos.

Little Basturk and Umit Davala were equally industrious, their efforts being wasted by a surprisingly profligate Hakan Sukur.

The second half couldn’t sustain the pace and passing of the first; Senegal were visibly tiring and Turkey were playing for extra time. When that came, it lasted only four minutes before Mansiz, on for Sukur, ended Senegal’s dream.

Turkey now go to Saitama. They must fancy their chances against Brazil, though the latter will be confident and beating England and would also have had an extra day’s rest.

But this is the World Cup of surprises. In fact, we should stop calling them surprises; any team in the semi-final is a potential World Cup winner. Brazil, beware.