"Who Will the Turks Cheer Now? - Christian offers consolation:
Erkan was not devastated after the game. We could win but at least there was good play and a promising football future. In the end, Turkey made a good scene in this tournament; demonstrated a spirited play...
Christian Runkel:
Peace in Turk-Almanistan
I watched the game sitting next to 12 year old Sinan and that is why I
could not completely rejoice in the German victory. It is so sad to see
a child disappointed. The photo is taken during the break when it was
still 1 - 1. Sinan is standing behind me and trying to put me under his
Turkish flag.
Next to him was Mevlut the one with the half-moon and star painted on
his cheeks. I still carry some red greasepaint on my forearm, from
hugging him after the game. Turks are good loosers, so there was a lot
of shaking hands clapping shoulders and even hugging when the game was
over.
The room where we watched belonged to a Turkish Association in downtown
Solingen, only a few hundred meters away from where in 1993 a Turkish
family was burnt to death by some crazy young Germans. That day is still
in the hearts and minds of many people here, but yesterday night it was
centuries away. These German Turks were obviously an undisputed living
part of Solingen and rooted here, they watched the game over German TV,
the youngsters naturally talked German with each other and shouted their
wishes, commands and condemnations for the Turkish players in German to
the screen.
When the game was over there was a mixed feeling that "we Turks" had
lost but also that "we Germans" had won. I hope that in the end this
will take away some of Sinan's disappointment. Sunday in Vienna he will
together with Millions of German Turks support the Ballack team, Sinan's
and my team.
The police had blocked some of the streets in downtown Solingen to keep
the honking cars that drove "corso" through the night away from places
where they could block the traffic. Two officers helped me to find an
escape way to get out of town. They were obviously relaxed. No clashes,
no violence had occurred, there was peace in our little Turkish-German
world.
And a huge roundup:
Who Will the Turks Cheer Now? - TIME
By ANDREW PURVIS / BERLINThe horns started sounding in the streets of Berlin eight hours before the opening whistle blew. For the better part of a week, German black, red and gold flags sprouted from car windows, clothes lines, window sills right across Germany. In Berlin, the schnell-bahn rapid transit line was taken over by chanting fans, draped in national colors, swigging half-liter bottles of beer and singing for their teams victory. One half a million Berliners converged on the Brandenburg Gate in the historic center of the old capital to watch the game on giant screens. As in 2006, when Berlin hosted soccer's World Cup, a country not given to displays of national pride (since the Second World War) allowed itself to feel good about being German."
Cruel end for Terim's miracle men
Turkey's remarkable UEFA EURO 2008™ adventure had plenty of magic and mystery but even they could not conjure up one last miracle against Germany in Basel.Soccer-Euro-Turks back home so proud despite defeat to Germany | Football | Reuters
FATIH TERIM IS LEAVING THE TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM
Turkey coach Fatih Terim said he would probably step down after his side were beaten 3-2 by a last-minute German goal in the first Euro 2008 semi-final Wednesday in Basle. Terim hailed his side's performance but said he would now "most probably" quit as national team coach, once he had spoken to the players and the football federation's president.
This Time Lucky Germany beat Turkey to reach Euro final
Defender Philipp Lahm scored a 90th minute winner to give Germany a thrilling 3-2 victory over Turkey and a place in the Euro 2008 final.Turkey stand tall after painful loss
Turkey took pride despite a 3-2 defeat against Germany which ended their UEFA EURO 2008™ dream, with Uğur Boral saying: "We lost but we were the better side."Jubilant Germany catches its breath
Chancellor Angela Merkel was not the only one left breathless by Germany's win against Turkey as a nation celebrated reaching the final of UEFA EURO 2008™.Löw hails 'winning mentality'
Joachim Löw hailed Germany's winning mentality after they produced a 3-2 victory from a UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final which at times looked to be slipping away.Proud Terim set to stand down
Fatih Terim has confirmed that he is likely to return to club coaching after the heartbreaking end to Turkey's roller-coaster UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign in Basel.Fascinating duel on the flanks
Player analysis: The first semi-final at UEFA EURO 2008™ was marked by an intriguing duel between two swashbuckling full-backs, Philipp Lahm and Sabrı Sarıoğlu.Resilient Turkey finally heading home
Turkey's feat in reaching their first UEFA European Championship semi-final will be remembered for their knack of scoring late goals and the plethora of injuries and suspensions they incurred.Turks are back with a little scar
Hours before the Turkey-Germany match in Basel, here is my wildest UEFA finals cup scenario: Turkey beats Germany and Russia beats Spain. Turks and Russians, the two nations the Europeans have historically feared the most, play the final.Euro 2008 blog
Crescendo builds as Turks play full part in classic semiGermany strike late to seal final place
Germany 3-2 TurkeyPhilipp Lahm's 90th-minute winner finally ended the challenge of a determined Turkey in a gripping semi-final.
Turkey beaten at their own game?
Talking point: Turkey were beaten at their own game in Basel on Tuesday as, no sooner had Semih Şentürk equalised, Philipp Lahm fired in a 90th-minute winner.Turks in Germany Have Chosen Sides, but They're Flexible | Sports | Deutsche Welle | 25.06.2008
Organizers expect 100,000 fans for Euro 2008 semifinal in Basel, 245,000 liters of beer ready - International Herald Tribune
The Atmosphere in Basel - Goal - Soccer - New York Times BlogQuality Time With The Emperor
"Grant Wahl's BlogQuality Time With The Emperor
BASEL, Switzerland—Now this is more like it. The Euro 2008 Blog is finally on-site, nibbling on some Swiss chocolate and devouring the European dailies as we take you inside the final week of the world’s biggest soccer event of the year. Over a cold bottle of raki last night at the team hotel, Turkey coach Fatih Terim told me ...
Soccer Mania
After three amazing comebacks to reach the semifinals, Turkey is wild with rejoicing and hope. Two consecutive wins would make Turkey the Euro 2008 champion. But first the Turks have to clear the German hurdle in the semifinals in Basel, Switzerland, this evening and then take care of the other semi winner between Russia and Spain on Thursday in the grand finale on Sunday. (click for article)
Turkish Tears
Turkey finally did the expected . . . They exited the Euro 2008 Tournament losing their semi-final match to Germany 3-2 today. WHAT AN EXCITING GAME!!!"Turkey dominated most of the match despite four suspensions and five injuries, proving its run of extraordinary comeback victories was no fluke." But did anyone expect this year's Turkish team to get this far? In...Germany - Turkey 3 -2
Germany won today's match against Turkey in the last minute. Exactly how Turkey won its games against Czech Republic and Croatia. In my opinion this was Turkey's best match, but they lost.EU political football
Europe’s politicians are winding down for the summer, and plenty of them are watching parts of Euro 2008… and starting to wonder. Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia and present President of the European Council, floats the idea of an EU football team in yesterday’s Independent. I’m not sure that’s going to solve the EU’s problems, but it would have the potential to be a fabulous team. The EU has form in this regard - a football match was organised in 2007 to celebrate 50 years of the Treaty of Rome.
Zurück durch Technik
Another Euro 2008 open thread but one in which we feel compelled to note how tonight’s match was an insight to the central role of television in the experience — as evidenced by how flat things went (at least where I was watching) when the global TV feed apparently collapsed for significant portions of the second half, including the 2-1 and 2-2 goals. At least it was back in time for Lahm’s emphatic finish on the winner.
Good Game
Soccer semifinal more than just a game for Turkish Germans
Billed as a clash of Germany's "two national teams," today's match between Germany and Turkey in the semifinals of the European Championship exemplifies the deep, yet often tense, ties between the two countries.
An estimated 2.7 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, comprising the country's largest minority. Many Turkish immigrants, however, say they are not fully accepted in German society. Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that most Germans of Turkish origin are backing their blood and supporting Turkey in today's match. Said Kahan Abay, who has lived in Germany his whole life:
Comments
We were so sad here in Belgie.
So sad :(
Posted by: Di | June 26, 2008 02:36 PM