Proud Turkey warmly embraces football heroes on their return home

The players, led by Coach Fatih Terim, mounted a double-decker bus at Ataturk airport that took them to Taksim Square, in the heart of the city, for celebrations.

Fireworks greeted the bus at the square, as about 3,000 joyous fans waved the red-and-white national flag and cheered the players, who joined the chants: "Turkey, Turkey!"

Some held banners reading "Fatih Terim, don’t leave us" after the charismatic coach revealed Wednesday he was planning to quit the team and move to a European club he did not name.

But despite the euphoria across this football-mad nation, the crowd was no match to the throngs that greeted the team after their third place at the 2002 World Cup, largely because of the organizers late announcement of the event.

Turkish newspapers heaped praise Thursday on Terim and the national team for their stunning performance in the tournament even though they bowed out of the championship after losing to Germany in a dramatic semi-final.Â

Germany started as favorites against a Turkish side depleted by the absence of nine men, including key players, from Terim's squad due to injury and suspension, but mostly looked second best in the most exciting match of the tournament so far.       Â

The fact Turkey scored the opening goal in a match at the tournament for the first time on Wednesday shows how hard they worked to reach their maiden European Championship semi-final.Â

Throughout the tournament they have fought until the very end for their fanatic fans and their reward will be a heroes' welcome on their return, as when they reached the final four at the 2002 World Cup. Their success really is no fluke.

Few teams across all previous championships have been able to conjure up late goals like the Turks, with late comeback wins over Switzerland and Czech Republic in the group stage and an equalizer in the 122nd minute of the quarter-final victory over Croatia on penalties, Turkey have been hailed as miracle workers.       Â

"Turkey will always be remembered as the greatest escape artist of the European Championship. The Germans, though, staged the latest escape," the AP reported on Thursday.

TURKISH PRESS

All the dailies were united in declaring Turkey the better team on the pitch on Wednesday despite the absence of nine men, including key players, from Terim’s squad due to injury and suspension.

"Don't be sad, we won," Hurriyet daily headlined on Thursday.

"Turkey lost out to Germany in a Euro 2008 semi-final match 2-3, but the entire world applauded Turkey. The Turkish national soccer team bade farewell to the championship with a goal they conceded in the last minute of the game in which they played perfectly," Hurriyet wrote.

"A glorious farewell," Milliyet said. "We return from Switzerland with heads held high."

"Champions of our hearts," read a banner headline in the Sabah daily.

"Thank you, boys," said Radikal daily, hailing the teams "unforgettable" performance. Â

"Turkey is proud of you," Vatan daily said.

Turkey's Euro 2008 performance also brought relief to Terim, who was much criticized for his tactics and choice of players after losing 2-0 to Portugal in the opening match.

"Terim succeeded in getting the team to play to his philosophy," commentator Ridvan Dilmen, a former Turkey international, wrote in Milliyet. "I am not exaggerating when I say this is a revolution in world football."

"Everyone will remember us as the team that played football," Dilmen added.

Pundits had given Turkey little chance, but the team surprised all to win their last three games in a nail-biting fashion to earn the reputation of comeback kings.

PRIDE

Central Istanbul resounded to proud chants of "Turkey, Turkey" early on Thursday as Turks waved national flags aloft despite their country's defeat against Germany in their Euro 2008 semi-final in Basel.

After the raucous party atmosphere across Turkey's largest city before and during the match on Wednesday evening, the thousands of fans gathered in bars and city squares were bitterly disappointed after their team's impressive performance.

Despite being unlucky, Terim was gracious in defeat.

"I congratulate Germany for their win and wish them success for the final but I am proud of my players. We were able to show the world what a good team we are," he said.

"Sometimes when we win you could ask yourself if it was fair too. This was the result and we have to accept it. I think we were the better side."

Turkey had four players suspended for the game and were riddled with injuries but Terim refused to make excuses. He even backed goalkeeper Rustu Recber, whose mistake led to Germany's second goal from Miroslav Klose.

In contrast, Germany had all 23-men fit and ready to go having responded to their shock 2-1 defeat by Croatia in the group stages by knocking-out much-fancied Portugal with an impressive 3-2 defeat in Basel last Thursday.

Terim also said he would probably step down after his side were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Germany in Wednesday's absorbing Euro 2008 semi-final.

"Most probably after speaking to the federation president and the players I will choose to say, 'This is what I have done'," he told a news conference.

"I had declared earlier I would not be working in Turkey. I am a man who keeps my promises. So I will most probably go back to a European country."

Terim, who has coached Italian teams AC Milan and Fiorentina as well as Turkey's Galatasaray, said a final decision would not be made immediately.

THRILLING GAME

Germany coach Joachim Loew played the same line-up and 4-5-1 formation he had used against Portugal for the semi-final, but it was the Turks who dominated the first-half chances with Kazim Kazim driving a shot against the bar on 14 minutes.

And Turkey took a deserved lead when Kazim again hit the cross-bar before Fenerbahce’s Ugur Boral fired at Jens Lehmann who watched helplessly as the ball trickled over the line on 22 minutes.

Germany's reply was immediate as attacking midfielder Lukas Podolski slid in a cross which Portugal’s tormentor Bastian Schweinsteiger flicked into the net on 26 minutes for his second goal in two games.Â

Lehmann was in action again as he punched clear Boral’s free-kick just after the half-hour mark, one of nine first-half chances Turkey created compared to Germanys one.

In a much-tighter second half, Turkey kept the pressure on with Hamit Altintop bossing the midfield against his Bayern Munich colleagues in Germany’s ranks.

But the break through came in the 79th minute when Bayern striker Klose rose above three Turkish defenders and goalkeeper Recber to score his second goal in two games.

Turkey pulled a late goal out of the bag for the fourth time in succession when Semih Senturk slipped marker Per Mertesacker to stab home Sabri Sarioglu's cross on 86 minutes to equalize.

But Lahm put German fans in seventh heaven with his 90th minute strike to send his side to Vienna. Â

RECBER'S RETIREMENT

The 35-year-old goalkeeper Recber has announced his international retirement following the Germany game, which was his 118th cap.

"I am ending my international career, where I served with pride, glory and honour for 14 years.

"I would like to thank everybody who has helped me. I am proud of each of my team mates. Everybody in Turkey should get behind them because this team can achieve a lot," he said.

GERMAN COACH

Loew said his side were lucky to book a place in the final.

"Turkey were very strong technically and there were sections of the game when we couldn't get a grip," Loew said after the game.

"We saw how Turkey had come back three times at this tournament to turn games completely on their head, so we knew what was coming. In the last few minutes we were trembling but we were lucky enough to score in the 90th minute.

"We were pretty convinced then that they wouldn't be able to come back for a fourth match," he was quoted by Reuters.

"Turkey were combining excellently in midfield, though, so I thought it was the right choice to stick with one forward and not sacrifice our strength in midfield," the coach added.

Germany will now face the winners of Thursday's second semi-final between Spain and Russia in Vienna.