Surprised Turks in muted joy

Istanbul, June 20: Somewhat surprised to find their team in the final eight of European football, Turkey's response to victory over Belgiu...

Istanbul, June 20: Somewhat surprised to find their team in the final eight of European football, Turkey8217;s response to victory over Belgium has been muted in comparison to the euphoria sparked by Galatasaray8217;s UEFA Cup success.

Newspapers naturally hailed the win as a historic step that took Turkish players to the quarter-finals of a European championships for the first time.

A historical victory,8217; blared the front-page banner headline in the milliyet newspaper. 8220;we have put our signature on the biggest victory in history. With Hakan csukur8217;s two goals, we opened the door to the quarter-finals.8221;

In Belgium, the post-match revelry was marred by violence. Local youths described by witnesses as Turkish fans attacked a restaurant used by English fans, hurling paving stones through windows and injuring some customers.

The streets of the political capital Ankara and Istanbul were quiet after Monday8217;s match, with only isolated groups of revellers celebrating for TV cameras in search of wider scenes of jubilation.

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The National team has struggled to draw support in a countrywhere club loyalties are stronger and more passionate. An early loss against italy and a dire draw with Sweden were hardly likely to excite viewers back in turkey.

Newspapers had attacked coach mustafa denizli for his teamselection, blamed the referee for the loss against italy and set the scene for an early exit from the tournament.

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Such lack of confidence has clearly scarred turkey8217;s trainingcamp.

8221;After the first two matches we were the target of unjustified criticism8230; Before the turkish people I now declare those who did this as pitiless traitors to their country,8221; newspapers quoted striker hakan sukur as saying.

Denizli too enjoyed proving the critics wrong.

8221;Those who criticised the team and myself forgot we had an openreturn ticket home,8221; he said.

Galatasaray8217;s sukur scored both goals in the defeat of belgium,the first time a host nation has been eliminated in the group stage of the competition.

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It was the first time turkey had beaten belgium in the fivematches they have played in the last 43 years.

The turkish football federation is now considering increasing itsthree million dollar bonus for the team for reaching the quarter-finals.