Merih Demiral (l.) scores the goal to make it 0-1.
Photo: dpa/Ebrahim Noroozi
Well? In the end, Austria didn’t really know what had happened to them: The insider tip team was so much celebrated and admired at this European Football Championship so far, so surprised was the group winner (ahead of France and Holland) going home after a narrow 1:2 defeat – against Turkey, which had shown so little playful sparkle over the course of the tournament so far.
There was almost disbelief about this elimination in the Leipzig Central Stadium. ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick had not imagined it that way, absolutely not, he revealed in the press room of the arena in which he held court for many years as RB sports director: “It was clear to me that the journey would continue, that we would continue to prepare for the games in our quarters in Berlin. And that’s how it feels for the players too,” was how Austria’s German coach described it in a subdued voice after the final whistle. There was now “disappointment and emptiness” among everyone. But, that’s how it is in playoffs, only one person wins. The other loses: “And unfortunately in the end it was us.”
Exclusion! What else? Christian Klemm comments on Merih Demiral’s right-wing extremist gesture at the European Championships
In the duel between passion and concept football, the team that played with a less sophisticated system, but always with visible dedication, had the upper hand. Turkey had already put their stamp on the game after 57 seconds when central defender Merih Demiral smashed the ball into the net from close range after a confusion in the penalty area. His goal was the fastest ever in a European Championship knockout game.
From then on, the Austrians pressed and created constant pressure, only to concede the score 2-0 in the 59th minute. Again after a corner, Demiral again, this time with a header. Substitute Michael Gregoritsch reduced the score to 1:2 in the 66th minute and the Austrians pressed for an equalizer. But after goalkeeper Mert Günok directed an almost unstoppable header next to the goal with a reflex in stoppage time (90+3), it was clear: Turkey will meet the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday, the Austrians will go home . “Goodbye, goodbye!” the countless German Turks sang after them from the stands as they left the lawn.
Heartfelt wolf greetings from Demiral
As expected, the UEFA delegates named the celebrated double goalscorer Merih Demiral “Player of the match”. And they were right in several respects: The 26-year-old, who played at Juventus Turin until 2022 and now earns his money in Saudi Arabia at al-Ahli Sport Club in Jeddah, not only worked tirelessly in the right central defense and provided care the two celebrated goals. Demiral also caused publicity far beyond the game: after his second goal, he formed both hands into the wolf salute, the nationalist gesture that is punishable in the country of Austria, the opponent in the round of 16, for example.
The wolf salute is the identifying symbol of the “Bozkurtlar” (Gray Wolves), as the followers of the ultranationalist “Ülkücü” ideology call themselves. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, 12,100 people belong to the movement in Germany. The “Ülkücüler” (“idealists”) cultivate a “nationalist, anti-Semitic and racist right-wing extremist ideology, whose roots lie in Pan-Turkism/Turanism. Gray wolves see “Turkishness” as a superior nationality and culture; they long for a great empire “from the Adriatic to the Wall of China.” In Germany, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is monitoring the organization.
“This is completely normal”
Match winner Demiral appeared innocent in Leipzig. His goal celebration expressed pride in his country, he said at the press conference. “It has to do with my Turkish identity.” When asked how exactly his gesture should be understood, Demiral explained that he had seen the greeting from spectators in the stadium and then he remembered that he had planned it too . All Turks are proud to be Turks, and of course he is too: “It’s completely normal.” He hopes, inshallah, that he can show the gesture more often in the tournament. “There’s no hidden message or anything!”
Well, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution at least admits in its assessment that the greeting is sometimes only used “to provoke political opponents, for example at public rallies.” The assessment suggests that not every user has to be a Turkish right-wing extremist, but a supporter of Ottoman great power fantasies certainly does. So no hidden message at all?
UEFA is investigating
The European Football Union was alarmed after the public outcry. On Wednesday morning, the association announced that an investigation had been initiated against Demiral. It is about the accusation of inappropriate behavior by the Turkish national player. If fault is found, there is a risk of a penalty that could have an impact on the quarter-final against the Netherlands, for example in the form of a game ban.
However, it wasn’t just the Turkish fans and players who were unpleasantly noticed in Leipzig. A live broadcast on Swiss television SRF showed Austria fans in Leipzig chanting “Germany for the Germans, foreigners out!” to “L’amour toujours” by Gigi D’Agostino. Unspeakable.
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