Ozil strike completes rout
Mesut Ozil helped Germany to their third straight Euro 2012 qualifying win with a goal against his ancestors' nation in a 3-0 win at Berlin's Olympiastadion.
The Real Madrid forward scored for Joachim Low's side in the 79th minute after
Miroslav Klose had netted his fourth goal so far in the qualifying campaign in
the 42nd minute. Klose then wrapped up the victory third three minutes from
time.
Halil Altintop missed Turkey's best chance early in the second half, but the
hosts demonstrated their superiority in front of a partisan crowd in what was
officially a home fixture, but seemed more like an away match.
More than 300,000 citizens of Turkish origin live in Germany's capital and 10%
of them descended on the Olympiastadion tonight to demolish the host nation's
presumed home advantage.
Many of the Turkey fans are descendants of the guest workers who arrived in
Germany following the second World War to help rebuild the nation's economy.
Ozil is such a descendent. He was born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish parents, but
never had any doubts about his allegiance as he chose to represent Germany from
an early age.
He was jeered by the Turkish fans in the stadium, who have struggled to accept
his snub, each time he touched the ball.
He almost silenced them in the 16th minute as he exchanged passes with Thomas
Muller and then shot from the outside of the penalty area.
Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel could only parry the first threat to his goal
behind for a corner.
The next big threat came in the 42nd minute, and the Turkey number one was
unfortunate to see the ball end in the back of his net.
He almost performed a miracle by tipping Muller's header onto the underside of
his own crossbar, but the ball rebounded down off the inside of the post to the
predator par excellence, who nodded in his fourth goal in the European
Championship qualifiers.
Turkey should have levelled in the 53rd minute when Altintop found room alone
in front of Manuel Neuer, but the Germany goalkeeper made a save with his foot.
Ozil was pulling the strings for Germany and he set up Lukas Podolski for an
excellent chance in the 70th minute, but the Cologne striker placed his shot
wide of the far post from 10 yards.
Philipp Lahm, who had sent in the cross for Muller in the build-up to the first
goal, provided the second as he sent Ozil through on goal, and he kept his
composure to place his shot in before showing respect for his friends and family
in the stands by not celebrating his goal.
Klose then wrapped up the win with three minutes to go as he took advantage of
a terrible error by Volkan Demirel to score his fifth goal in three Euro 2012
qualifying games.