Why they hate each other: Croatians still bitter about Mohács (they’re from the Balkans…they know how to hold a grudge)
Why Croatia should win: If you’ve been living under a rock for the past two months, Croatia manager Slaven Bilic not only put together the Croatia team, but his rock band, Rawbau wrote and preformed “Vatreno Ludilo,” which as songs written for soccer tournaments goes, is ahead of this but far behind this (Clint Dempsey may not be able to hold down a place in the Fulham side, but he is the voice of our generation. “Real recognize real” indeed).
If this were a battle of the bands, Croatia would win hands down. But this is a soccer match, and soccer matches are won on the field (or wherever Juventus gives the referee his check). Given Germany’s performance against Portugal earlier today, Croatia’s victory over a limp Mannschaft in group B play looks even more impressive. With all due respect to Turkey, Germany is a much better team, and if the Croats play as well against Turkey as they did against Germany, they should win easily, especially since first teamers Mehmet Aurelio and Volkan Demirel, the ‘keeper are suspended for this match.
Why Turkey Should Win: Pure abject terror. Have you ever seen a Fenerbache game? Turkish soccer fans are crazy, and not in the Dutch way…these guys are actually violent. When you consider that “insulting Turkishness” carries jail time, if this team loses to Croatia, I think the soccer team will take over for the Kurds at the top of the Turkey shit list. This violence also extends to the players. When Turkey missed out on Germany 2006 after a playoff against Switzerland, the Turkish players, incensed on not qualifying for a World Cup played on home soil (check the demographic statistics if you don’t believe me), started a brawl with the Swiss team (a Swiss team coach is still seeking damages from the TFF). Starting a brawl with the Swiss? I told you they were hardcore
As mentioned above, Turkey is missing two of their key players and going up against Croatia, a trendy favorite. The only thing that will see them through is the terror of losing that swept them to 3 goals in fifteen minutes against the Czech Republic to get here. Because honestly, they’re just not as good as the Croatians.
Turkey has guts, but Croatia has a craving for giblets.
1 response so far ↓
1 Olivia Katrandjian (okatrandjian09) // Jun 22, 2008 at 11:27 pm
This game was ridiculous. I think Croatia is the better team, and even if that belief is grounded in certain personal racial “affinities,” shall we say, the fact that Croatia managed to hold their own through 120 minutes without letting Turkey score a goal until the final few minutes says something about the strength of the team. The fact that Turkey was able to beat Croatia in penalty kicks does not say anything about the strength of the Turkish team. What does say something about their team is that so many of their players have been suspended that it’s going to be a challenge for them to put together a respectable team for the game against Germany. Also, I don’t even know why Turkey is in the Euro, and part of the reason this game upset me so much is because if Turkey goes on to play in the finals (i don’t even want to write win the finals) it will be huge politically for a country that is not allowed into the EU.
Just needed to say that. Anyway, check out footytube.com, it’s pretty sweet.
~Olivia
You must log in to post a comment.