Euro2008 Blog with Salman Mitha

Greetings from Istanbul! Euro Blog

What a coincidence I am in Turkey this week, and I will enjoy the match tomorrow between Germany and Turkey in this nation passionate about their team’s success in Euro 2008. First impression off the plane – it’s hot. And it will reach hotter levels during the match and I’m sure, if Turkey win, no thermometer will be able to measure the heated celebrations to follow from Ankara to Berlin. As I mentioned on the show last week, the connections will transcend what you will see on the pitch. On a sporting level, many German coaches have experienced success leading the top club teams in Turkey, including current German coach Joachim Loew (at Fenerbahce 1998-99). On a socio-political level, check out this statistic: 1.7 million Turks live in Germany making that the number one foreign minority living in the country. There have been issues of cultural (lack of) assimilation faced by Turkish immigrants in Germany that will give them a little more emotion while watching the match.

But let’s stick to soccer. Will it be close? On paper – no. Turkey will be missing 9 players due to suspension or injury. They may have only 13 players ready for action. Germany has the most players in the federation’s history – 15 – on the roster that have played in the previous major tournament. At the World Cup, Germany lost in the semifinal when Thorsten Frings was suspended. After Thomas Hitzlsperger filled in admirably for Frings vs. Portugal, Loew doesn’t have to rush Frings back from injury now. Michael Ballack has asserted himself in the tournament at the right time, and now the team is following his lead and building momentum that usually should end in a title. But, they will face the Cardiac Kids, Turkey is a team that one has to watch all 90 minutes, or all 120 minutes. Despite the depleted squad, this team plays with heart and determination. If Germany don’t pay attention to what happened to the Czech Republic and Croatia, they will again go home after the semi-final.

Notes: Building on Glenn’s comments about Andrei Arshavin. He’s the top candidate at the moment for Player of the Tournament. And it’s his play on this grand stage that has catapulted him to the player that every club must have for the coming season. He’s said he’d love to play in Spain. Offers have come from England and Germany…. Per Mertesacker made a public comment that he would love it if Lukas Podolski transferred over to Werder Bremen. Since his breakout two summers ago, Poldi has not fit into the Bayern system and thus been coming off the bench. As he’s shown in international play, he needs to be out there and can make a difference… Spain survived to make it through, but it’s interesting that they are the only group winners who survived. My guess is that Germany, Turkey, and Russia (and Italy, if you will) had to play a do-or-go home match since their second match. This sort of mentality worked great in this short tournament. All the group winners never had to play under pressure. If the Italians played to win and not for penalties, they may have proved my theory 100%, but it’s still something that needs to be considered in future tournaments.

More from Istanbul after the match. Enjoy. Sal