As the last line of defense goalkeepers inevitably account for a large proportion of the most expensive howlers at a tournament.
And Euro 2008 has been no exception, as those caught in the firing line know all too well.
Goalkeeping goofs don’t come much more expensive than the one Czech shot-stopper Petr Cech made in his side’s tumultuous final pool match against Turkey which saw him literally throw away the chance of a quarter-final berth.
PHOTO: AP
He and his teammates were cruising into the last eight with just 15 minutes left on the back of goals by Jan Koller and winger Jaroslav Plasil.
But Turkey’s Arda Turan’s low effort then eluded Cech and the Chelsea shot-stopper then suffered a rush of blood to the head as he fumbled an admittedly greasy — given the rainy conditions — high ball, allowing Nihat Kahveci to bundle in the equalizer three minutes from time.
Nihat promptly curled home a beauty and it was not just game over but tournament over for the Czechs.
Greek keeper Antonis Nikopolidis knew how Cech felt.
He promptly announced his retirement from international football after the Greeks have played their final game against Group D winners Spain.
The 36-year-old Olympiakos guardian said he was stepping down after his mistake handed Russia the only goal in a 1-0 win that ended Greece’s four year reign as European champions.
“I have decided that the match against Spain will be my last one,” Nikopolidis said.
He was caught in no man’s land as he chased a lob which was drifting wide and was caught out of position when Sergei Semak flicked the ball back into the middle for Constantin Zyryanov to tap home.
And German keeper Jens Lehmann was embarrassed when Croatia netted their winning goal in their group meeting as a huge deflection off his own player
Lukas Podolski bamboozled him, allowing Ivica Olic to score.
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