A week to remember

Neither mine nor Hans' guesses were correct and my wishful thinking about a Turkey vs Russia final in Euro 2008 vanished with the two semi-final matches this week.

Welcomed as heroes

Meeting the enthusiastic crowd in Taksim Square

A heavily damaged Turkey, with most of its star cast being suspended or injured, was expected to be an easy chew to the German Panzers; but showed them the very essence of Turkish nature: "Hope dies last!". A shocking gameplay that froze the Bundesliga stars to their own field was crowned with an opening goal; but Germans stroke back with two consecutive strikes that left Turkish team (which has mastered the dramatic turnbacks in last three matches to result in many premature deaths in Turkey from cardiac arrests) to look back to its last minute man, Semih to do it again for a late equaliser. This time it was no gentle Switzerland, over-confident Czech Republic or boasting Croatia but the Germany which won enough football trophies to live down the defat at two world wars. They secured their way to finals at the end...Although played better and more lively, Turkish side was the one to shed tears and pack the bags for a return home.

Bolshoy Ballet in Euro 2008

Why does it always rain on me?

Like Turkish, Russians were also overjoyed by their equally unprecedented drive to semi-finals with a gigantic win against the all time favourites, Holland. After Turkey lost, I lost all my appetite for a night to remember at finals againt Russia but still clung to the hope that the Russian team could appear once again versus Spain; but the Spaniards finished with 3 neat goals and sent the last remaining slavic team on the european football fields back to the Red Square.

Doing the CSKA-kick

"Comrades, it is real grass!!"

Now it will be Germany vs Spain...and i think i will not be watching it.

Yevro 2008 continues...

Chempionat Yevropy po Futbolu (Чемпионат Европы по футболу) or Euro 2008 continues as Turkey and Russia made their way tıo semi-finals against the Euro-soccer giants Germany and Spain respectively.

Turkishmen guessing the result of Russia vs Holland game

Turkey, "The Comeback Kings" as British press likes to call it, surprised us again and nearly killed us from after-joy endurance drinking and celebrating the score (actually dancing) outside with bums, drunks and serial killer lookalikes in thousands as they infested the Taksim Square right after every national victory making the one of the most lethal grounds on Earth.

Athough my companions see that as embracing the real Turkish public (as we represent the so-called elite) and feel that they have fulfilled their national duty to be one in joy; but I think I had nearly lost one of my nine-lives during our slang filled conversation with the riot police stationed nearby.

The Battleship Potemkin has arrived to Switzerland and it has more than a revolution on its deck

Anyway, we made it again and reached our personal best in European Championships. As did Russia with their spectacular win against the orange favorites of the game (Hans will be angry with me though) . My lucky guess about a Turkey vs Russia final still holds chances...lets see if that happens.

Saving the USSR spirit for Spain...

Yuro 2008

Now that both Turkey and Russia slips through hellish draws and last minute revivals, they both have become a part of the quarter finals in the Euro 2008 European Football Championships.

A Turkey vs Russia match, in which I think that a strong willed Turkish side will win for sure, will, unfortunately, can only happen in the finals if both teams can end up there.

Most of my readers know about Turkey (since they are Turkish themselves or have heard about our 3rd position in World Cup 2002, Galatasaray FC with UEFA cup...vs) but Russian football has been an enigma since the fall of Soviet Union. They could never show up in international championships or when they did, they had satirical defeats against other post-soviet states (with a vengeance).

Oh my God, Ze Rashians are coming!

Along with the dramatic revivals in other sports like volleyball and ice hockey, enormous funds are now directed to Russian football according to the semi-hidden agenda of reviving the "USSR Sportsky Spirit" where the soviet sportsmen would dominate in every sport available from naked mud wrestling to table tennis with nuclear warheads. Football is one of them of course...After winning the European Cup in 1960 (the team with Lev Yashin, legendary goalkeeper) and losing it three times later to Spain, West Germany (there was a West Germany then) and then to Netherlands. The Soviet (and then Russian) football was never to become an eyecandy of Kremlin again and all socialist sporting interest would be on olympics where the athletics of communism would stack the gold medals and show how fat ass capitalist pigs are inferior.

Lev Yashin (left) brings the cup back to Kremlin

After the fall and with the succeeding rise of Russia, all they needed was money and pride which they found both under their very feet deep underground. Money was easier to extract as oil and gas but pride came not as easy. They had to earn it back from the capitalist pigs-cum-allies.

Now they have their chance as Zenith has the UEFA cup this year and the national team leads on to the goal with two star players Roman Pavluchenko of Spartak Moscow and Andrei Arshavin of Zenith St.Petersburg.

Pavluchenko

Arshavin

I hope we will have a Turkey vs Russia final...although how unrealistic it sounds.