Seen by many as the best goalkeeper in the world, the Chelsea star will be having nightmares about the role he played in the Czechs' stunning implosion during their winner-takes-all Group A clash with Turkey.

Two goals ahead and seemingly cruising with 15 minutes remaining, they were suddenly hit by a Turkish stampede that first resulted in Arda Turan's strike which reduced the deficit to 2-1.

Cech then produced a monumental gaffe with four minutes left, spilling a routine catch from a high cross at the feet of Nihat Kahveci, who could not believe his luck as he tapped home into an empty net.

Worse was to follow for Cech when his side's defence went walkabout moments later, allowing Nihat to curl home a sensational third in off the bar as Turkey snatched a 3-2 win and second place in the group.

For Cech, who is usually impeccable under the high ball, the loss drew a line under a miserable end to a season on a personal level.

Not only did Chelsea see Manchester United beat them to the Barclays Premier League title on the final day of the campaign, they also lost to Alex Ferguson's side on penalties in the Champions League final.

"I think what happened here sums up my season," said the 26-year-old.

"Each time I got back fit, I injured myself; each time we finally managed to progress to a final, we lost.

"It is like the feeling I had after the final of the Champions League but it is worse here, because I know that the mistake I made for the second goal is sending the team home."

Cech admitted he and his Czech team-mates folded under pressure in that amazing final 15 minutes at a rain-soaked Stade de Geneve.

"I think we lacked energy at the end and they lived for the moment," he added.

"With 20 or 30 minutes left to play, it looked like they were going to lose so they began to attack and unfortunately a lot of things went favourably for them and they took some confidence.

"For us, from being calm, there was then a little pressure and the error came with their equalising goal. And the third goal was just a consequence of the second goal.

"We were almost there and suddenly we weren't."

Cech has vowed to soldier on though, adding: "I still have a lot of motivation, it's an amazing thing to pull on a jersey for the national team."

It is the end of the line for many of his colleagues though.

The likes of Tomas Galasek and Jan Koller, who opened the scoring against Turkey with a trademark header, will retire from international duty, while coach Karel Bruckner will leave his post after seven years in charge.

"An era has come to an end, it is over," Cech added.

"The coach is going to finish, he has players who have come to the end of their careers on the international scene.

"After all we have done this year, we all deserved more than that. We are going to have to change a lot of things but the quality in Czech football is still there and I think we still have a future."

Turkey's future is a quarter-final tie with Group B winners Croatia in Vienna on Friday.

Late goals saw them emerge victorious in their final two pool games, and coach Fatih Terim insists his team will take a lot of self-belief into the knockout stages.

"Croatia are doing well and are a good team, but so are we," he said.

"We are getting better each passing day and we will go to Vienna hoping to stay there.

"It is another winner-takes-all game. But I am confident and believe we will play well."

Turkey will have to do without two suspended players - midfielder Mehmet Aurelio and goalkeeper Volkan Demirel - against Croatia.

Aurelio picked up two bookings in the group stage while Volkan got himself sent off in the dying seconds of the win against the Czech Republic for stupidly pushing Koller to the ground.

Terim added: "We were 3-2 ahead so I didn't approve of what he did.

"I don't know what happened but whatever it was, it wasn't right. The referee was right to send him off.

"It's a shame because Volkan was in good form."

ends