Terim - Turkey can rejoice

Coach delighted after securing first Euro semi-final appearance

Last updated: 20th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Terim - Turkey can rejoice

Terim: Proud moment

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Fatih Terim feels Turkey have become one of the 'great footballing nations' after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

Turkey, who reached the last four of the 2002 World Cup, secured a place in the European Championship semi-finals for the first time after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Croatia in Vienna.

Semih Senturk sent the quarter-final tie into a shoot-out when he equalised in stoppage-time in extra-time, moments after Ivan Klasnic had headed Croatia in front.

Croatia put two spot-kicks wide before Rustu Recber saved from Mladen Petric to set up a semi-final date with Germany next Wednesday.

Unique

"What has happened to us is unique in our history," said Turkey coach Terim.

"We have become one of the great footballing nations.

"Our people can rejoice. And if our people are proud of us then we are proud of them."

Hamit Altintop, who scored for Turkey in the shoot-out, praised the mentality of his team-mates when the match moved into penalties.

"It was indescribable," said Hamit. "If we can keep going like this and believe in ourselves, anything is possible.

"It was good we stayed calm at the end. In the past we weren't able to do that. Today we stayed as cold as ice to the end."