Semi-final, St Jakob Park, Basel

Germany 3
Turkey 2

Philipp Lahm scored a 90th minute winner to give Germany a thrilling 3-2 victory over Turkey last night and a place in the Euro 2008 final.

Germany, who will play either Spain or Russia in Vienna on Sunday, looked to have won the semi-final in the 79th minute when Miroslav Klose headed home to give them a 2-1 lead.

Semih Senturk then levelled for Turkey in the 86th minute from close range in what looked like another escape act by Fatih Terim's men.

But Lahm snatched victory for Germany with a smart shot into the top corner at St Jakob Park.

"It was one of most beautiful moments in my life, getting into the final," Lahm said. "That's always beautiful. We missed that at the (2006) World Cup. Today it worked out.

"We're going to celebrate first of all and then prepare for the final. We want to win the title. The atmosphere here is sensational."

Germany's delighted coach Joachim Loew said: "It was an insane battle, incredible tension up till the last second. That makes me obviously very happy."

Terim said: "I congratulate Germany for their win and wish them success for final but I am proud of my players and think their will to play well, and the technical support, all came together and they were able to show the world what a good team they were.

"I think we are leaving as the most colourful team of the tournament. We can say we were almost there, but that is part of football as well."

Goals from Turkey's Ugur Boral and Bastian Schweinsteiger in an absorbing first half had left the game evenly poised.

Turkey had reached their first European championship semi-final thanks to last gasp goals in the group game with the Czech Republic and the quarter-final against Croatia but in Basel they were on top of their game from the start.

Terim's side began much better than their more illustrious opponents despite being without four players through suspension and having a raft of others injured.

They scored the opener in a match for the first time in the tournament after 22 minutes.

Left midfielder Boral, who was a threat all night, scuffed the ball through goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's legs after a looping effort from Kazim Kazim came back off the bar.

Turkey deserved their lead having already come close when Kazim rattled the woodwork with a shot and impressive playmaker Hamit Altintop was denied following a Lahm mistake.

Germany equalised against the run of play on 26 minutes when midfielder Schweinsteiger cleverly flicked in a cross from Lukas Podolski in one of their first real attacks.

The second half started off less thrilling than the first with Germany having a penalty shout turned down after Lahm was felled on the edge of the area and Thomas Hitzlsperger whistling an effort just past the post.

But the late goal rush made for a pulsating finish, a day before Spain meet Russia in the second semi-final in Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium.

Lahm provided the cross in the 79th minute and Klose supplied the header after Turkey keeper Rustu Recber rushed out and failed to take the ball.

Senturk squeezed an equaliser past Lehmann at the near post with four minutes to go but there was still time for Lahm to fire his winner into the roof of the net after working a one-two with Hitzlsperger.

Germany
J. Lehmann; A. Friedrich, P. Mertesacker, C. Metzelder, P. Lahm; B. Schweinsteiger, S. Rolfes (T. Frings 46), M. Ballack, T. Hitzlsperger, L. Podolski; M. Klose (M. Jansen 90).

Turkey
R. Recber; S. Sarioglu, M. Topal, G. Zan, H. Balta; K. Kazim (T. Metin 90), H. Altintop, M. Aurelio, A. Akman (M. Erdinc 81), U. Boral (G. Karadeniz 84); S. Senturk.

Scorers
Schweinsteiger 26, Klose 79, Lahm 90 (Germany); Boral 22, Senturk 86 (Turkey)

Referee Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).