'Banks replica' - was this 'one of great saves in Euros history'?

The infinitesimal Gordon Banks denied Pele astatine nan 1970 World Cup is known arsenic nan 'save of nan century' - but person we conscionable seen different extremity to lucifer it?

This clip nan segment was played retired successful nan pouring rainfall of Leipzig alternatively than nan sweltering power of Guadalajara, but Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok's leap to someway claw distant Christoph Baumgartner's header will unrecorded conscionable arsenic agelong successful nan representation of anyone who saw it.

It was a important save, too, coming astatine nan very extremity of a pulsating last-16 tie and denying Austria a last-gasp equaliser their head Ralf Rangnick felt they afloat deserved.

"We didn't person nan basal luck and I judge if nan crippled had gone to other clip we would person won," said Rangnick.

"We had clip to people an equaliser, but it's difficult erstwhile they person Gordon Banks successful goal!"

Banks was besides nan sanction connected each nan pundits' lips, arsenic they tried to picture Gunok's prevention while his team-mates were sprinting to congratulate him erstwhile nan last whistle was blown seconds later.

"It's Gordon Banks. Unbelievable. What a moment. The keeper conscionable spins it astir nan post, it's a superb save," was erstwhile England defender Matthew Upson's guidance connected Radio Five Live.

"That is first class! It's for illustration a Gordon Banks replica," said Lee Dixon connected ITV.

"That prevention from Gunok is 1 of nan awesome saves of Euros history," was Chris Sutton's verdict.

There person been respective melodramatic precocious goals successful these Euros - deliberation Jude Bellingham's superb strike for England against Slovakia connected Sunday - but this was a prevention to lucifer immoderate of them, astatine an identical constituent of nan match.

Turkey were hanging connected to a 2-1 lead successful nan look of relentless precocious unit when, successful nan 94th minute, Austria mounted 1 past attack.

With nan exhausted Turkey defence retired connected its feet, Baumgartner darted into abstraction astatine nan backmost station and directed his header downwards, nan shot skidding disconnected nan bedewed turf and seemingly heading for nan other corner... until Gunok recovered a measurement of getting crossed his extremity to support it out.

"How he saves it is unbelievable," added Sutton, who seemed almost mislaid for words.

“I cannot deliberation of a amended crippled I've seen,” said Upson. "Drama, commitment. Wow, what a game. Baumgartner thought that was successful nan backmost of nan net. He does everything right.

"Off that greasy surface, he's done truthful well. It was Gordon Banks, identical. The Turkish fans are going crazy.”

Turkey defender Merih Demiral, who scored doubly - including nan quickest knockout-stage extremity successful European Championship history - was named man of nan lucifer but paid tribute to Gunok afterwards.

"Mert did a awesome job, we had a large chat aft nan last whistle and I couldn't judge my eyes - possibly 1 of nan champion saves I saw pinch my ain eyes," Demiral said.

"He deserves it, Mert is nan oldest subordinate connected nan squad and has ever guided america and shown america nan way forward, truthful I americium very happy he made that save."

Turkey leader Vincenzo Montella was 1 of nan fewer group not to usage superlatives erstwhile talking astir Gunok’s stop, but he did not downplay its value for his country's cause.

"I don't know, because location person been truthful galore spectacular saves," Montella said erstwhile asked his thoughts connected wherever Gunok's prevention classed successful nan all-time list.

"I americium happy for him, happy for nan team, happy for nan state and happy for nan group we person created present and what we produced retired location today.

"Well done to Mert, that is his job, to make saves and we are very happy he made a match-winning prevention successful nan past minute."

The reward for Turkey and their service of devoted fans is simply a quarter-final against nan Netherlands successful Berlin connected Saturday, and Montella feels thing is imaginable pinch their support.

"We person a immense following, location is passion and love," he explained.

"It is very visceral backmost location successful Turkey truthful I americium very happy to person handed our Turks present successful Germany a spot of pride, and crossed nan world.

"This responsibility, emotion and support we perpetually consciousness it, but you tin only clasp these dreams if you activity difficult from time 1 - we will observe coming but past we get down to work."

Here are a action of nan tweets and messages we received from BBC Sport readers successful nan moments aft nan save...

Andy: You tin watch shot for arsenic agelong arsenic you want and I don't deliberation you'll spot a amended prevention than that. Easily up location pinch nan champion saves ever. Incredible.

Andrew: Mert Gunok pinch nan cleanable Peter Schmeichel tribute enactment astatine nan death.

JMG: That was an perfectly stunning save. In fact, stunning doesn't moreover do it justice. To propulsion that disconnected successful nan 95th minute, my word.

Howard: That prevention was arguably amended than Gordon Banks v Pele successful 1970... because it was successful a winning cause.

Richard: That mightiness beryllium nan champion prevention I've ever seen. Incredible from Mert.

Steve: The photograph of that prevention by Gunok doesn't do it justice! Absolutely brilliant. It will astir apt extremity up successful astir apical top saves of each clip lists successful nan future!

Jon: I genuinely deliberation that Gunok prevention is nan champion I've ever seen. Unbelievable!