Euro 2012 Q: Two Away Games Against Guus Hiddink’s Turkey

“These factors combined mean two tricky away games against a resurgent Turkish side – one in Turkey and one in Berlin.”

Interesting. I know USA fans feel this way when USA plays Mexico or other countries with large US-based populations. Is it fair to draw parallels between the two situations?

Hertha had this problem when they played Galatasaray, but this is a club specific problem (i.e. inability to win over the Berliners) and not a country problem.

I would disagree that the game in Berlin will be an away game. IMHO the situation is very different from the US, because the German public does care a lot about football and so the Olympiastadion won’t turn into a hostile environment. Or rather, only if the German team plays like shit and is subsequently booed off the pitch.

I guess there’ll be a lot of Germans in the stadium, who have a Turkish immigration background. But it would be sad if they booed their own country and players like Tasci or Özil, who are Germans with similar immigration backgrounds.

I think it certainly has social parallels. Jan is right in pointing out that Germans might be in the slight majority, but I think the support will mostly be behind Turkey.

Of course if Germany won the World Cup then…

From what I have heard in Deutschland, and again this is just from people Ive talked with is that they (Turkish) support Turkey first and Deutschland second. Unlike a lot of Mexican immigrants in the US who support Mexico first, then other NTs like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, etc and probably run the whole list before they say US… maybe this touches upon how passionate locals are for their NT. Most if not all European, South American, British, countries are very passionate. In the US percentage-wise, you cant even compare… yet

I think a majority of the Turks in Germany today have never actually been outside of Germany. So it’s natural they support Germany also. I really hope Germany has a good performance in the summer and especially Ozil. Imagine if he scored the winning goal in the final!

Where & when was this picture taken?

Ashley: in Austria, Euros 2008, ahead of the semi-final between Germany and Turkey I think.