It would be hard to blame those hungry Croatians for relishing the thought of carving up Turkey in tonight's European Championship Quarter Final match.
For Croatia, there is a rare opportunity to anticipate a feast of goals. Putting a further rumble in their tummies is the fact that this side of Turkey is missing some legs.
Turkey would have started as the underdog in any case, but with several key players out due to injury and their regular goalie suspended, they face an even tougher task.
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As if this were not enough bad news, they also will have to tread very carefully as the team with the highest number of carded players.
It may be foolish for the Croatians to commence the celebrations too soon, however, as the Czech Republic and Switzerland found out the hard way.
Croatian coach, Slaven Bilic, has confidence bordering on arrogance. "Turkey are good, but we are better," he said. "Our advantage is that we're not naive—we're a better team".
Given that statement, combined with the never-give-up attitude and outstanding sportsmanship of his opposite number, Fatih Terim, it is hard not to feel some obligation to root for the Turks in this contest.
If there is any justice in the world, Turkey will not be done like a dinner. But to take a pragmatic view, the most likely possibility is that they are going to get their potatoes mashed.
Courage and faith can never be discounted, of course. Miracles do happen in soccer games - just ask the Czech team!
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5 months ago
I think the Croatians just threw up.
5 months ago
This article was quite prophetic - although I don't think anyone could have seen that escape trick coming. Good article, and great game (well, the last 5 minutes anyway!).
5 months ago
Thanks for the comments, guys. A lot of this was just an excuse for culinary puns, but it was great to see Turkey get through this. My prediction on Russia also worked out, so perhaps we will see - oh boy would this be great! - the final being between Turkey and Russia!!!!
It would be a dream, but of course very unlikely. Certainly not something we would expect to see more than once in a lifetime.
Nicely played, there, David. "Croatians threw up"... :)
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