July 6 – The Netherlands came back to beat Turkey 2-1 with two second half goals to silence the cacophonous Turkish support and start a party of their own in the Olympicstadion in Berlin.
The last time this reporter was in this stadium it was in the 1980s for a rock concert in a facility that was overgrown, a little unloved with its uncomfortable past, and in a city surrounded by a wall.
But this magnificent historic stadium is still rocking, but to very different national tunes.
Turkey have had a fairytale run in the Euros to the quarter finals, breaking expectations and ear drums across Germany with a brand of football that though based around a power house of a defense and the unveiling on the big stage one of Europe’s special talents in Arda Guler.
All has been driven on by Turkey’s magnificent and passionate support who wear their hearts high on their sleeves.
The Dutch are not without passion and their orange clad fans are an impressive sight, but they are a team based on technique and a certain aristocratic style that even during their harder times of late, still make them a must watch.
Those hard times look to be taking a turn for the better having won their first appearance in a Euros semi-final since 2004.
Turkey and the Netherlands have played each other 14 times with the Dutch winning six, the Turks five and four drawn. The last time they met was in 2021 in a World Cup qualifier which the Dutch won 6-1, but this is a very different Turkish team.
Talk before the match was of the Grey Wolf salute and Merih Demiral’s suspension for the ultra nationalist gesture. Turkey’s president Recip Erdogan was reportedly in town for the match as the Turks and Germans jousted in their diplomatic posturing.
Come game day that all paled into insignificance as the Turks and the Dutch turned up in a united passion and commitment to the game.
Ronald Koeman started the same 11 as in the quarter final, while Vincenzo Montello brought in Samet Akayadin,…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/06/turkeys-euro-adventure-ends-2-1-loss-netherlands/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-06 21:27:15
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