According to a report by Spain’s Marca, while Germany is the official host of the 2024 European Championship, Turkey could be considered an “invisible host” for the tournament.
It is estimated that over three million Turkish immigrants currently reside in Germany, with Berlin’s Kreuzberg district often referred to as “Little Istanbul.”
Soccer serves as a prime example of the fusion between Germans and Turks. Under Coach Montella, five players in the Turkish squad were born in Germany: Calhanoglu, Ayhan, Ozcan, Tosun, and Idiz. “Germany will always be my home, not just geographically but also culturally,” Galatasaray player Kaan Ayhan said in an interview.
Naturally, competition exists in football matches, as demonstrated in the friendly match between Turkey and Germany last November. The game, held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion with a capacity of 72,592, was packed. Despite not being the majority, Turkish fans created a home-field advantage. “It felt like we were playing away… in Berlin. The atmosphere was intense. Turkish fans cheered loudly with every contest, I don’t know if it made some German players nervous,” German forward Niclas Füllkrug commented.
This scene could recur during the Euros, whether in Dortmund (where Turkey will face Georgia and Portugal) or Hamburg (where Turkey will conclude its group stage against the Czech Republic).
In Dortmund, Turkish midfielder Salih Özcan will experience a sense of “home.” “For Turkish people living in Germany, seeing the national team play so close to home is very special. Turkey is a passionate country, especially about football. We’ll feel their support, which will drive us forward,” Özcan expressed.
“The atmosphere in our matches will be extraordinary. Many Turks live in Germany, so it feels like a home game. We’ve shown this before when we beat Germany in Berlin. Our goal is to make all Turkish fans proud. One of my main objectives is to bring Turkey’s passion to the national team,” Montella shared in an interview.
