Turks are bracing themselves for the most crucial sports event in their history, with the football-mad country grinding to a halt ahead of the semi-final World Cup match with Brazil.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit ordered a half-day holiday for public sector employees in the afternoon to allow them watch the match, Turkey’s first qualification for a World Cup semi-final.
Parliament’s working hours were altered to fit round the match.
And even the timing of a crucial medical check-up that the ailing Ecevit was scheduled to undergo later in the day was arranged so as not to overlap with the game, liberal daily Radikal reported.
”Hearts beat as one,” the mass-circulation Hurriyet daily trumpeted in a headline that covered almost half of its frontpage.
”Come on boys! Turkey is holding its breath, awaiting yet another victory,” the Sabah newspaper said.
Cafes and hotels across the country organised special events for people to watch the match together and textile companies were working flat out to meet the huge demand for Turkish flags.
Huge red-and-white flags adorned buildings across the country and news presenters appeared on television dressed in the colours of the national flag.
Turkey’s qualification for the World Cup semi-finals this year is only the second time in the team’s history.
Their last appearance at this stage of the tournament was almost half a century ago, in 1954.
The surprise success of the national team has already made the players national heroes and their names have been given to streets, bridges and parks while they are still far away from home.
”Go Turkey! Don’t forget, we are with you whether you lose or win,” Radikal newspaper wrote.
The authorities, meanwhile, warned fans to behave themselves in celebrations after the match if Turkey were to win.
The unprecedented nationwide outburst of joy following Turkey’s victory over Senegal in the quarter-final last Saturday turned dangerous.
About 20 people were injured by gunfire and dangerous
driving led to the death of at least five others. – Sapa-AFP