Germany 3 Turkey 2: A last minute goal from Philipp Lahm ended Turkey's dream of Euro 2008 glory this evening but Fatih Terim's side can go home with their heads held high after another pulsating tie that ended in a 3-2 win for the pre-tournament favourites.

Turkey took a surprise lead in the 22nd minute when Ugur Boral bundled the ball past Jens Lehmann, but the Germans took just four minutes to drag themselves level through Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Miroslav Klose's 79th minute header then looked to have settled it before Semih Senturk poked the ball in at the near post for what looked to be another late show for the Turks.

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

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

They took the lead when left midfielder Ugur, who was a threat all night, scuffed the ball through goalkeeper 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 were stunned into action however and equalised on 26 minutes when midfielder Schweinsteiger cleverly flicked in a cross from Lukas Podolski in one of their first real attacks.

Podolski later shot wide when in a good position but generally the three-times European champions were lacklustre and consistently lost the midfield battles.

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 riveting finish, but this time it ddid not go Turkey's way.