Turkish players return home to heroes’ welcome

No shame in semifinal defeat to Germany for fans

Turkish national soccer team players arrive in Taksim Square in Istanbul yesterday. Turkey lost its semifinal Euro 2008 soccer match against Germany.

ISTANBUL (AFP) – Turkey’s soccer players received a hero’s welcome yesterday as they returned home after bowing out from Euro 2008 in the semifinals but marking the tournament with their never-say-die performance.

The players, led by coach Fatih Terim, nicknamed “The Emperor,” boarded a double-decker bus at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport that took them to Taksim Square, in the heart of the city, for celebrations.

Fireworks greeted the bus at the square, where thousands had watched the team’s matches on a giant screen, as about 3,000 joyous fans waved the red-and-white national flag and cheered the players, who joined the chants of “Turkey, Turkey!” Some held banners reading “Fatih Terim, don’t leave us” after the charismatic coach revealed Wednesday he was planning to quit the team and move to a European club he did not name.

But despite the euphoria across this soccer-mad nation, the crowd was no match for the throngs that greeted the team after their third place at the 2002 World Cup, largely because of the organizers’ late announcement of the event.

Pundits had given Turkey little chance ahead of the tournament, but the team reached the semifinals of a European championship for the first time, winning three of their first four games in a dramatic fashion that earned them the reputation of comeback kings.

In the group matches, they lost 2-0 to Portugal, then beat Switzerland 2-1 and the Czech Republic 3-2 with last-minute goals and knocked Croatia out in the quarterfinals on penalties after equalizing with the last kick of the game in time added on.

Hit by injuries and suspensions, the depleted team put up a brave performance in the semifinal on Wednesday in Basel, but lost 3-2 as Germany scored the winning goal in the 90th minute. In Germany, however, police said yesterday that vandals had attacked two Turkish kebab shops in the eastern city of Dresden shortly after Germany’s Euro 2008 victory over Turkey, injuring several people.

ANKARA (AFP) – Turkish newspapers heaped praise yesterday on coach Fatih Terim and the national team for their stunning performance in Euro 2008, even though they bowed out of the championship after losing to Germany.

“Champions of our hearts,” read a banner headline in the mass-circulation Sabah over a full-page picture of the team after Wednesday’s clash, which Germany won 3-2 with a 90th-minute goal.

“Thank you, boys,” said the liberal Radikal, hailing the team’s “unforgettable” performance. All dailies were united in declaring Turkey the better team on the pitch on Wednesday, despite the absence of nine men, including key players, from Terim’s sqaud due to injury and suspension.

“We crushed Germany, but could not defeat them,” Sabah said.

“A glorious farewell,” added the liberal Milliyet. “We return from Switzerland with heads held high.” The popular Vatan said, “Turkey is proud of you.”

Turkey’s Euro 2008 performance also brought relief to Terim, who was much criticized for his tactics and choice of players after losing 2-0 to Portugal in the opening match. An angry Terim lashed out at the Turkish press, saying it was up to him and not the media to decide, then led his team to dramatic last-minute victories in the next three games to make it into the final four.

“Fatih Terim succeeded in getting the team to play to his philosophy,” commentator Ridvan Dilmen, a former Turkey international, wrote in Milliyet. “I am not exaggerating when I say this is a revolution in world football. Everyone will remember us as the team that played football.”