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Fearless Turkey ready for Germany
by Simon Hart from Basel
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Fatih Terim is proud of his side`s efforts (¿Getty
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Turkey coach Fatih Terim said there were "no miracles
in football" as his depleted team prepared to take on Germany for
the prize of a place in Sunday's UEFA EURO 2008T final in Vienna.
'Message about life'
The progress of Turkey to their first semi-final on the European stage
has provided compelling drama, their three wins en route to Basel secured
by increasingly improbable comebacks. With three-times champions Germany
now barring their path on Wednesday, Terim reflected that Turkey's success
so far had been the result of a committed team effort and nothing more.
"As far as I know there are three results you can get: win, lose
or draw. There is no result called a miracle in football. Einstein said
there are two ways to live - one is to believe everything is a miracle
and live your life that way, the second is to believe nothing is a miracle.
I belong to the second group. We've worked hard to put together a team
who work a lot and believe in themselves. Everyone enjoys watching us
- we send a message about life as well as football."
Low praise
Germany coach Joachim Low has experienced Turkish football during short
spells with Fenerbahce SK and Adanaspor AS, and he admitted he was impressed
by the strides taken by Terim's side. "Maybe ten to 15 years ago
they wouldn't have been capable of coming back in three consecutive matches
but now they can do that," he said. "They have always had talented
players but when they were behind their heads tended to go down. They
have learned never to give up." While Turkey's self-belief is strong,
Germany's eye-catching quarter-final victory over Portugal has increased
the confidence levels of a squad aiming to reach their first UEFA European
Championship final since 1996. "We had a setback against Croatia
[losing 2-1 in the group stage] but have responded very well since and
we have no worries about injured players. We are confident in our strengths,"
said Low.
Injured list
Highlighting the "great physical shape" of captain Michael Ballack,
the coach said he had no fitness worries, meaning a possible return for
Torsten Frings, absent against Portugal with a broken rib. Should Low
retain the 4-2-3-1 system employed so effectively against Portugal, this
would mean a place on the bench for Thomas Hitzlsperger or Simon Rolfes.
By contrast, Terim's foremost concern is to ensure he has enough players
available. The quartet of Volkan Demirel, Tuncay Sanl?, Arda Turan and
Emre As?k are suspended while striker Nihat Kahveci followed Emre Gungor
in departing the tournament injured after the quarter-final shoot-out
triumph against Croatia. Midfielder Tumer Metin may be fit for involvement
but Servet Cetin and Emre Belozoglu are still struggling which could leave
just 13 outfield players available for action.
'Not afraid'
Terim took a philosophical view as he looked ahead to what is Turkey's
biggest match since their 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-final loss to Brazil.
"If you asked the eliminated coaches if they would be in my place
with the injured and suspended players, or watching the semi-final from
home, I suppose they would still like to be here." Germany have won
four of five previous semi-finals in this competition but Terim added:
"We have courage and believe in our chances. We respect Germany but
we are not afraid of them, just as we've not been afraid of any other
opponent."
Euro2008.com,
25 June 2008
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