Turkey set to settle score with Germany

There is so much at stake as Germany hosts Turkey in what is expected to be a mouth-watering Euro 2012 qualifying Group A at match at the Berlin Olympic Stadium this evening. First and foremost both teams have maximum points from two games, with Germany leading the group only by virtue of a better goal difference. Today’s winner, if any will emerge, will take sole possession of pole position. The Turks crushed hapless Kazakhstan 3-0 away on Matchday 1 (Sept. 3) and followed on with a 3-2 home victory on Matchday 2 (Sept. 7). The Germans pipped Belgium 1-0 on the road on Matchday 1 and walloped poor Azerbaijan 6-1 at home on Matchday 2. Secondly, the two countries met in the Euro 2008 semifinals in Basel, Switzerland -- the Germans beating Turkey 3-2 with Philipp Lahm’s last minute goal before going on to lose to Spain in the final. It was the Germans who stopped a highly depleted Turkey from making its first European Championship final on June 26. So the Turks have a score to settle with “Die Nationalmannschaft” today. Thirdly, with over 30,000 Turkey fans expected at the Olympic Stadium this evening, drawn mainly from the large Turkish expatriate population in Berlin, it is not only going to be a tough clash; the winner will also earn bragging rights.