Euro 2008

Whether your a keen admirer or not, there is something rather magical about this year’s European Championships in Switzerland and Austria. The football has been highly impressive, as has the talent on show. No doubt the transfer saga surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo has tried to take its place on the centre stage, but the participating nations performances have made us forget this little ordeal for Red Devils all over the world.

I have watched every single match, (yes even the repeated ones on the BBC’s iPlayer), and what has impressed me the most has been the level of passion involved. Even the French, who at times seemed like they were playing a friendly match, provided glimpses of determination and nationalistic qualities. But this has been more evident in the team that surprisingly find themselves in the Quarter final after losing their first game - Turkey.

Even with that opening defeat to Portugal, a distant memory 2 weeks ago, Turkey’s drive throughout the match was admirable to say the least. Even with the Portuguese two goals to the good, Turkey always seemed like scoring, but their frustrations got the better of them.

Is it any surprise then, judging by the late chances created by the Turks, that they find themselves in the last four of the competition? In all the three matches since that opening defeat to Scolari’s Portugal, Turkey have scored late goals; when I say late, I’m not saying the last ten minutes, i mean the last kick of the game, literally. It is often a good habit to have if a team can turn around a dire performance for 89 minutes and then come up with the gold in the remaining 1. Just ask Croatia, who were probably still celebrating in their minds when Semih powerfully hit that shot past Plestoika.

But now the Turk’s face Germany. And many will argue that the roller-coaster fairytale comes to a end here. I’m not too convinced. Their is something mildy odd about Turkey. Its not that they are like Greece four years ago, who tactically won the tournament with 1-0 wins and 10 men defensive formations. Rather, the Turks, under a adventurous coach in Fatih Terim, have this amazing spirit, which seems to be carrying them through.

Suspensions, injuries, sending offs, erratic decisions, you name it, Turkey have had it all. There is a old Turkish proverbs that says ‘a man does not seek his luck; luck seeks its man’, and judging by the way the tournament has gone so far, Turkey have acquired quite a fair bit of it so far. Against the Swiss in matchday 2, they turned around a 1-0 deficit in the worst weather conditions which ended being more like a Turkish mud bath. In matchday 3, the conceded 2 goals, yet scored 3 in the last 15 minutes. But confirming that luck is on your side is scoring a last gasp goal against one of the tournament favourites, in injury time of extra time, after they had scored two minutes earlier.

So far, Turkey have scored when it has mattered,, and that is the key thing about this run to the semi-final. It was sad seeing a excellent Croatia side knocked out, but then it is quite endearing seeing Turkey prod along with the problems they face. They have lost Tuncay to suspension for the upcoming game with Germany, whilst the have lost Nihat (hero of the game with the Czech’s) to a long term injury. That being said, and with talk of a third choice keeper playing upfront, Germany might be rubbing their hands with joy. One thing they cannot take for granted however, is that for Turkey have the spirit. The body of the Turkish team is slowly decapitating as the tournament goes on, but as Robert Louis Stevenson said, you can ‘kill the body, but not the spirit’.

Germany v Turkey, WED, BBC 1, 7.30pm

Tags: Euro 2008, Portugal 2-0 Turkey, Terim Fatih, Turkey

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