EURO 2016: Five things to know about Turkey
AFP
May 12, 2016 20:40 MYT
May 12, 2016 20:40 MYT
Euro 2016: Group D - Turkey
Five things on Turkey ahead of Euro 2016 where they start in Group D with Spain, Croatia and Czech Republic.
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Croatia
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Czech Republic
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Spain
1) Rare but spectacular
Turkey have only qualified for three World Cup finals and four European Championship finals, but they have reached the semi-finals three times and regularly leave a dramatic impact.
They qualified for the 1950 World Cup finals in Brazil but withdrew because of the cost of flying to South America.
At Euro 1996, they lost all their first round group games without scoring a goal.
At Euro 2000 Turkey beat Belgium 2-0 in their final group game meaning the Belgians became the first Euro hosts to fail to reach the second round.
They qualified for the 2002 World Cup final through a playoff and then reached the semi-finals. In the third place playoff Hakan Sukur scored after 10.8 seconds -- the quickest goal at a World Cup -- to launch a 3-2 win.
At Euro 2008, Turkey beat Switzerland 2-0 in the first round group to again condemn the host nation to failure to reach the second round.
They reached a semi-final against Germany who scored in the last seconds to get a 3-2 win.
They go to Euro 2016 as one of the best third placed teams in qualifying.
2) Speedy Turan
Turkey's captain Arda Turan is well known for a playboy lifestyle and like a lot of footballers that includes a fast car.
According to the Turkish press, the Barcelona midfielder has a collection including an Aston Martin DB9 and a Ferrari 458.
In 2009 he was reportedly in a car crash in Istanbul, but went on to training despite suffering cuts and bruises.
3) FIFA dispute
Hakan Calhanoglu, 22, is one of Turkey's rising stars because of his deadly free kicks.
Born in Germany, he plays for Bayer Leverkusen.
A lot of scouts will be watching Calhanoglu at Euro 2016, but he may be keeping one eye on legal affairs off the pitch.
Calhanoglu is in a dispute with world body FIFA over a contract he reputedly signed as a 17-year-old to play for Turkish side Trabzonspor.
Leverkusen confirmed the dispute in March and said it would take "several months" to settle. Despite the distraction, Calhanoglu has scored 11 times for Leverkusen this season.
4) Terim's team just won't give up
Turkey's coach Fatih Terim had his day of glory at Euro 2008 when his side just refused to admit defeat.
All of Turkey's goals seem to come in the last five minutes.
That is how they beat Switzerland and Czech Republic in the group ganes.
A Semih Senturk goal in injury time of extra time secured a penalty shootout against Croatia in the quarter-finals.
Croatia's coach Slaven Bilic insisted the goal was scored after the game had ended and that it would "haunt me for the rest of my life". Turkey won the shootout.
Turkey equalised in the 86th minute against Germany in the semi-final, but the Germans had the last laugh, when captain Philip Lahm shot the winner three minutes later.
5) Fenerbahce get lion's share
Coach Fatih Terim may be a Galatasaray loyalist who could go back to the legendary Turkish side after Euro 2016, but he will be counting on rivals Fenerbahce as the biggest single source for his squad.
Almost a third of the final squad could come from the Istanbul side, include defensive lynchpin Mehmet Topal -- who has more than 50 caps -- and rising star midfielder Ozan Tufan who has been linked to a move to the English Premier League.