Turkey, playing in their first Euro semifinal, had captured the imaginations of the world after staging late comeback victories in their previous three matches, but with a team ravaged by injuries and suspensions a first ever final appearance was tough to ask of them. Turkey were missing four players to suspension and another five to injury. Despite the hardships, the makeshift Turkish side were still quicker out of the blocks, with Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann needing to be alert to efforts from Colin Kazim-Richards and Hamit Altintop in the first 10 minutes.
Turkey then struck the woodwork in the 13th minute through London-born Kazim-Richards, whose rising shot crashed against the top of the crossbar from 12 yards out following Ayhan Akman's cutback. The Germany defence was all at sea in the opening stages, while there was little to encourage Joachim Low's side going forward either as Turkey bossed proceedings. It was therefore not unexpected when Turkey took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute through Ugur Boral. The chance came after Kazim-Richards had hit the Germany crossbar for the second time, this time with an effort which looped up into the air and onto the bar, and Boral slotted home the rebound, despite Lehmann's best efforts on the line.
Turkey's joy was shortlived though, as Germany equalised with their first chance of the match only five minutes later through Schweinsteiger. Lukas Podolski sent over a low cross from the left and Schweinsteiger darted in front of Mehmet Topal and with the outside of his right foot guided the ball across Recber Rustu and into the far corner of the net. Opportunities were coming thick and fast at both ends with Semih's header saved by Lehmann, who was then almost left red-faced by Altintop's deep freekick, which the former Arsenal goalkeeper misjudged and needed to dive backwards to tip over.
Podolski then wasted a good chance for Germany when he was put clean through by Thomas Hitzlsperger, only for the Bayern Munich man to blaze over with just Rustu to beat. Turkey goalscorer Boral stung the knuckles of Lehmann with a freekick before Sabri Sarioglu fired just over from distance as the underdogs finished the first half just as they started it - in total control.
At the start of the second half Germany might have had a dream start had Swiss referee Massimo Busacca whistled for a blatant foul on Lahm. There was little doubt it was a foul and the only question was whether it was inside the Turkey area or not - but the official gave nothing. The match was more even in the second half, with the two defences looking much less charitable than the opening period.
The ever threatening Boral fired a rare shot at Lehmann in the 71st minute before former Aston Villa midfielder Hitzlsperger saw his left-footed effort go just wide of the top corner. Germany took the lead through Klose in the 79th minute. Rustu looked favourite to come out and claim Lahm's lofted cross into the area, but Klose beat both the goalkeeper and Topal to the ball to send a glancing header into an unguarded net.
That might have spelt the end of some side's hopes, but Turkey had proven themselves an obstinate opponent in the three previous matches and, astonishingly, they managed to net yet another late goal. Sabri sent over a low cross and Semih managed to poke the ball past Lehmann at his near post. That was not the end of the drama though as Germany showed their own determination by netting a last gasp winner through Bayern Munich defender Lahm, who raced into the area before being picked out by Hitzlsperger and kept his composure to fire past Rustu into the near top corner.