,  By  İpek Özerim

Euro 2024: highlights from Turkiye – one of the teams of the tournament!

On and off the pitch, the Turks brought their national pride and passion to these Euros, setting the bar high with their fantastic group opener against Georgia. Scoring stunning goals and making arguably the save of the tournament, #BizimÇocuklar bow out of Euro 2024 with their heads held high and a bright future ahead.

Saturday night’s defeat at Olympiastadion Berlin against Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2024 European Football Championship was a hard blow to take, with tears from the players and fans alike.

The Turks had dominated the first half and were deservedly ahead in the 35th minute when centre-back Samet  Akaydın rose to powerfully head home at the far post from Arda Güler’s cross. Other chances followed, including Güler hitting the upright from a bending long-range freekick, but Turkiye failed to capitalise.

Things changed when the Dutch introduced substitute striker Wout Weghorst at half time, who caused Vincenzo Montella’s men signicifant problems with his height, intelligent play and defensive effort.

In one effort, Weghorst defensively intercepted a rebound just as Kaan Ayhan was about to tap in Turkiye’s second goal, the next the Burnley forward was preoccupying Turkish defenders in attack, freeing a path for Stefan de Vrij to rise and head home a cross for the Dutch to draw level in the 70th minute.

More pressure from Ronald Koeman’s side resulted in a second goal six minutes later, when Mert Mülldur, under pressure as he tried to block a cross intended for Cody Gakpo inadvertently ended up deflecting the ball into his own goal.

Defender Samet Akaydın scores the opening goal against Netherlands in the quarterfinal of EURO 2024, Berlin, 06 July 2024. Photo via X/Bizim Cocuklar

 

The Turks pressed hard trying to find an equaliser for the remaining minutes, with substitutes Keren Aktürkoğlu, Zeki Çelik and Cenk Tosun all going close, but the Dutch held on to win the game 2-1.

The defeat meant no repeat of Turkye’s 2008 run to the semi-finals, but their fine and entertaining performances over the course of five games at this tournament has earned them huge respect.

Since his appointment as Turkiye’s coach in September 2023, Italian Vincenzo Montella has moulded a brilliant team of individually talented players who fight for each other and have what it takes to go to the next level in international football. Here are some of the highlights from Euro 2024.

Highlights of Netherlands v Turkiye

Setting the entertainment bar high: Turkiye v Georgia

For a neutral football fan, this game had it all! The deafening noise of 60,000 football fans, most of Turkish origin, roaring on their side, supported by drummers, horns and a sea of flags, was matched on the pitch by a phenomenal game of football.

From the first whistle to the last, some 100 minutes later, both sets of players displayed their skills, passion and determination in this fast-paced attacking game that had end-to-end action. That Turkiye came away with a 3-1 win following three terrific goals by Mert Müldür, Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu, added to the sheer ecstasy Turkish fans felt at the end of this exhilarating game.

The result and performance were the perfect birthday present to coach Montella, who turned 50 on the same day, while setting the entertainment bar high for other teams in the tournament to follow.

Props to the stadium DJ who played Ayten Alpman’s classic 1978 song Bir Başkadır Benim Memleketim [My Homeland is Different], sang along my thousands of Turks, beautifully encapsulating the moment.

Highlights of Turkiye v Georgia

‘Never say die’ attitude: Czechia v Turkiye

Turkiye’s next Group F game against Portugal ended in a 3-0 and #BizimÇocuklar needed at least a draw from their final group game to guarantee qualification to the knockout stages. While not quite as thrilling as the Georgia match, the Turks exhibited grit and determination when it mattered to eke out a 2-1 win over Czechia (formerly known as the Czech Republic), who needed to win to go through themselves.

With so much at stake for both sides, this was a hot-tempered affair at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. The Romanian referee showed a total of 18 cards during and after the game – a new record for a European Championship match – including two reds, the first coming midway in the first half when Antonin Barak was sent off for a second yellow after catching Güler with his studs up.

Even with an extra man advantage, the Turks struggled to break down Czechia and ended the first 45 minutes without a shot on target. Yet six minutes into the second half, the vibe changed when winger Barış Alper Yılmaz – one of the stars of the Turkish team at this tournament – flew down the right and crossed into the box, creating a flurry of chances, including a super shot from Kenan Yıldız, which somehow goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk kept out. But he could do nothing about a follow-up shot from captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who composed himself to shoot the ball beyond Staněk’s outstretched foot and into the far corner of the goal.

Fifteen minutes later, it was the Czech captain Tomáš Souček’s turn to score and restore parity. A long throw-in into the Turkish box was headed on and when the Turkish goalkeeper Mert Günok came for the catch, he was seemingly fouled by striker Tomáš Chorý, causing Günok to drop the ball. Yet play continued and in the mele, Turkiye managed to clear a shot off the line before Souček fired home the rebound to make it 1-1.

The game seemed to be heading into extra time when Turkiye broke on the counter-attack. The ball was passed to substitute striker Cenk Tosun, who calmly struck the ball into the back of the net in the fourth minute of injury time to send the Turkish fans delirious and Czechia out of the competition.

Highlights of Czechia v Turkiye

 

Fastest goal in tournament: Austria v Turkiye

From the first to the last minute, Turkiye’s pulsating game against Austria in the round of 16 had it all!

The Turks won a corner soon after kick-off, taken by Güler, which the Austrians failed to clear. Goalkeeper Patrick Pentz scooped the ball off the line, which centre back Merih Demiral pounced on. His shot inside the six-yard box hit the roof of the net to give Turkiye the lead..

Coming after just 57 seconds, Demiral’s first goal of two in the match was the quickest knockout-stage goal to be scored in European Championship history.

The Austrians tried to strike back immediately with midfielder Christoph Baumgartner sending a shot just wide of Günok’s far post. He came close again from a corner, but he scuffed the shot.

There were great chances for both sides after this, but it was the Turks who struck again on the 59th minute. It came from another Güler corner, with Demiral rising first to meet the ball heading it in for his and Turkiye’s second.

Save of the tournament: Austria v Turkiye

Austria replied seven minutes later with a goal from Michael Gregoritsch. The substitute winger was unmarked on the far side of the box as a corner kick came in, headed on to Gregoritsch to score.

The Austrians threw everything into getting an equaliser, launching wave after wave of attack on the Turkish goal. Standing between them and that elusive second goal was Mert Günok, who was having the game of his life in what has already been an exceptional tournament for the goalkeeper.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

The 35-year-old Beşiktaş keeper made four important saves during the match, including a sensational effort in the final moments of the game. Demiral headed the ball out of the box, only for it to be lobbed back in. Baumgartner broke free of his markers to meet the ball with his head, powering down and towards the goal, and seemingly beyond Günok, who defied logic as he dived to his right and managed to push the ball out for a corner. Seconds later the final whistle below and Turkiye were through to the quarterfinals.

Likened to England goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ phenomenal save against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup, Günok’s wonder save has not only gone down as the best in this tournament, but as one of the greatest saves of all time, coming at the end of the match, where concentration lapses are natural for a keeper and defence that has been under constant pressure for some thirty minutes.

The scenes at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig after the game said it all. Joy for Turkiye, heartache for Austria.

Highlights of Austria v Turkiye

Merit Demiral’s controversial Bozkurt salute

The drama didn’t end there though.After the game with Austria, Melih Demiral gave the Bozkurt (grey wolf) salute with both hands on the pitch and posted a picture doing so on his social media pages with a caption showing the Turkish flag and the words 🇹🇷 Ne mutlu Türküm diyene! [How happy is s/he who can say s/he is a Turk]

The Bozkurt salute, where the middle two fingers touch the thumb to create a wolf head, while the index and little finger stick up like ears, is commonly used across Turkic states and tribes across central Asian, the Caucuses and Turkiye as sign of Turkic identity, freedom and victory.

The hand sign dates back to sixth century Turkic folklore, when two wolves, Asena, a sacred she-wolf, and Bortecine, a grey wolf, led the Göktürks to safety after being imprisoned in the Ergenekon Valley for centuries. From there, the Göktürks established their own khanate and the legend of the grey wolf has remained with Turks ever since.

Since the 70s, the Bozkurt salute became synonymous with the Turkish far-right. That association has led to Austria banning the Bozkurt salute. The German authorities also considered banning it, but concluded the Bozkurt had a far broader use and significance than just fascism.

Yet, after Demiral was seen making the controversial hand gesture, the German Interior Minister was among those to complain about it, prompting UEFA to investigate and issue a 2-game ban against Demiral.

UEFA’s decision caused anger among Turks, who labelled it “ignorant” and “racist”. There was a diplomatic row between the Turkish and German Foreign Ministries, and it also led to the bulk of Turkish supporters attending the quarterfinal game against Netherlands in Berlin to make the Bozkurt salute in the stands.

It appears UEFA’s ban and ensuing global media coverage about the controversy has merely fuelled greater awareness of this national symbol and increase its polarity.

Turkish fans make Bozkurt salute at quarterfinal match against the Netherlands

@andikynastBilder, die die UEFA nicht gezeigt hat: Tausende türkische Fans formen während der Nationalhymne die Hände zum “Wolfsgruß”. Aufnahmen der ZDF-Kamera.♬ Originalton – Andreas Kynast

Demiral, who was forced to miss the game against the Netherlands, has vowed to do the Bozkurt salute again when appropriate and pictures of him making the salute in the Red Bull Arena remain displayed on his social media pages in defiance of UEFA’s ruling.

Arda Güler the youngest player to score on Euro debut

Another Turkish player making the headlines at these Euros is teenage midfielder Arda Güler. The Real Madrid player was key to Turkiye’s fine run in Germany and leaves the Euros with a goal and two assists to his name.

Güler’s screamer against Georgia – one of the goals of the tournament – on 18 June made history as he became the youngest player to score on his EURO debut aged 19 years 114 days, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record by 14 days. The only other teenager to do that was England’s Wayne Rooney.

Arda Güler scores a superb second goal against Georgia in Group F group game, Dortmund, Euro 2024_18 June 2024. Photo via X / Biz Cocuklar

 

The youngster, who suffered a serious injury this season but went on to help Real Madrid win the Champions League and Spanish title scoring 6 goals in just 328 minutes in La Liga, has showed why he is highly valued by his club and national side.

“He played a great European Championship,” said Vincenzo Montella, the Turkish head coach, adding, “He hasn’t played a lot at this level, but he showed his value. The future is bright for him and the experience [at Euro 2024] will make him a far better player.”

Turkiye had the second youngest squad at Euro 2024, with players averaging 25.8 years old, slightly older than Czechia, which had an average age of 25.5. Güler and Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız, also 19, show the future is bright if they can continue in the same vein as these Euros.

As Montella notes, “We should have no regrets. We are a very young team and we must be proud, proud of the players, because they played with a Turkish spirit. The Turkish people love us and they deserve it. After these Euros, Turkiye will be seen with different eyes, probably with more respect.”

The Turkish Fans

The final note of these highlights goes to the Turkish fans, informally dubbed the tournament “co-hosts’ due to the sheer number of them present in Germany.

Prior to Euro 2024, many would have regarded the Dutch and Scots as the “party crowd”, but the Turks have brought plenty of colour of their own.

The build-up before every Turkiye game has been epic, with fans of all ages and both sexes assembling in their thousands in city centres, letting off flares, singing, chanting and dancing. They’ve then marched en masse to the grounds, often accompanied by a Turkish DJ on an open top bus and an Ottoman military style marching band, adding to the sense of occasion.

Once inside the stadiums, this mass of red and white have created a formidable atmosphere as they roared their team on while booing and hissing when the opponents had the ball, earning Turkish fans the ‘twelfth man’ accolade at this tournament.

Sharing the same passion and pride as the players, the Turkish fans have loved the highs and been gracious in defeat.

Final Thoughts

Turkiye became everyone’s second favourite team with their entertaining brand of attacking football and their fans’ warmth and hospitality.

The team should feel proud of their achievements at Euro 2024; while it’s sad they could not make it to at least the semi-finals of the tournament, they leave Germany with their heads held high, having created many incredible memories and won newfound respect among international football pundits, players and fans alike.