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After the first EURO 2008 best sixteen were paired up, Turkey and Germany didn't stand much chance of getting to the semi-finals...

However Panzers have shown that they should never be underestimated while Turkey made quite a feat by winning Croatia after having beaten the Czech. The whole country is now euphoric and with the motto: "never give up" the Turks believe in miracles and that they can win their mentors, Germany.

Actually, football on Bosphorus was under great influence from Germany in the past. German coaches like Derwall once made way for football in Turkey and now Fatih Terim's lads are playing for the finals. This is not Turkey side’s biggest success in the big competitions; Six years ago they played in World Cup semi-finals but before this competition happened it was widely regarded that the generation led by Hakan Sukur was much better.

Now no one is sure of that. This game will be more than just a game; about two and a half millions of Turks live in Germany and some internationals like Hakan Balta and excellent Altintop were born in Germany and raise in Bundesliga.

The Germans have lifted the form as the championship went by and according to their own opinion the loss to Croatia was helpful-it turned the alarm on. The team got serious, thanks to Ballack barely won Austria and qualified for the knock-out stage. They saved the best for Portugal; Germany won the game where they were even considered outsiders, thus regaining their self-confidence.

Now Elf are again No 1 favourites for the crown. This is sixth EURO semi-finals for Germany; tradition goes speaks in their favour: they won four out of five games. They played in four finals and won three crowns which, of course makes the leading football nation in Europe.

Head-to-heads

Germany and Turkey have played each other on 17 occasions with Germany winning 11 and losing three.

Turkey are unbeaten in three successive meetings with Germany, recording two wins and one draw.

Germany's last win over the Turks dates back to May 1992, when they won 1-0 in a friendly encounter.

Their only previous meetings at a major tournament came at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, when West Germany won 4-1 and 7-2.

Their last meeting in all competitions was a friendly in October 2005, in which Turkey prevailed 2-1 in Istanbul, through goals by Halil Altintop and Nuri Sahin. Oliver Neuville scored the German goal in injury time.

Team facts - Germany

Played five previous European Championship semi-final matches, progressing on four occasions.

Their sole semi-final defeat came in 1988, when West Germany were knocked out by eventual winners the Netherlands (2-1).

Both Germany and Turkey finished second in their group at Euro 2008. The last two European champions (Greece in 2004 and France in 2000) also finished second in their group.

Team facts - Turkey

This is Turkey's first European Championship semi-final. Their only previous appearance in the last four of a major tournament came at the 2002 World Cup when they were defeated 1-0 by Brazil.

Been in the lead for only nine minutes in their four matches played at Euro 2008. Including injury time, Turkey were in the lead for 2.5 minutes against Switzerland and 6.5 minutes against the Czech Republic.

Trailed in all four matches at Euro 2008 and yet still managed two wins and a draw. These three comebacks, against Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia, equal the record number of comebacks in a single European Championship finals, made by Czech Republic in 2004.

Player facts - Germany

Bastian Schweinsteiger has a goal, an assist, a yellow card and a red card to his name at Euro 2008. The only other player to have achieved this feat is Denmark's Klaus Berggreen in 1984.

If he plays, Kevin Kuranyi will win his 50th cap for Germany. He made his international debut in March 2003 in a 1-1 draw against Lithuania.

Michael Ballack has scored in two successive European Championship matches (against Portugal and Austria).

Ballack and Lukas Podolski both need two goals to equal Jurgen Klinsmann's German record of five in the European Championship.

Ballack has now scored 38 international goals. Only six German players (Muller, Klinsmann, Voller, Rummenigge, Seeler and Klose) have scored more goals.

Player facts - Turkey

By scoring twice at Euro 2008, Arda Turan, Nihat Kahveci and Semih Senturk have all equalled Hakan Sukur as Turkey's joint top scorers in European Championship history.

If they take to the field, Hamit Altintop will come up against his Bayern Munich team mates Marcell Jansen, Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

If he plays, Gokdeniz Karadeniz will win his 50th cap for Turkey. He made his international debut in a 4-0 defeat against the Czech Republic in April 2003.

35-year-old Rustu Recber is the oldest ever Turkish player in a major tournament (European Championship and World Cup combined). Rustu is Turkey's most capped player with 117 internationals and also the most experienced Turkish player in the European Championship with eight matches to his name.

Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik are suspended for this semi-final. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel is also suspended pending his appeal.

So far, Turkey have received 15 cards at Euro 2008, only four shy of the competition record set by the Czech Republic in 1996.

Posibble Line Up :

Germany : Lehmann, Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Rolfes, Frings, Ballack, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Klose.

Subs :  O. Neuville, T. Borowski, T. Hitzlsperger, K. Kuranyi, C. Fritz, R. Enke, P. Trochowski, D. Odonkor, M. Gomez, R. Adler, H. Westermann, M. Jansen

Manager: Joachim Löw

Turkey : Rustu, Sabri, Gokhan, Topal, Balta, Aurelio, Kazim, Ayhan, Altintop, Metin, Senturk

Subs : G. Karadeniz, M. Erding, Z. Tolga, U. Boral

Injured : B.Emre, K.Nihat, C.Servet, E.Gungor

Suspended : E.Asik, S.Tuncay, D.Volkan, A.Turan

Manager: Fatih Terim

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