Türkiye set for strong support at Euros from diaspora

Türkiye can expect a wave of support from the Turkish-German community at Euro 2024, reflecting the deep-rooted connections between the two nations.

This comes as many Turkish-origin residents in Germany are descendants of "guest workers" who arrived during the Cold War to alleviate West Germany's labor shortage amid a post-World War II economic boom.

The history of migration in Germany extends beyond Türkiye, with significant communities from Italy, Greece, Croatia and recently, refugees from Ukraine. Teams from these nations can also anticipate substantial local support during the tournament.

This year marks a significant legal change in Germany as longstanding restrictions on dual nationality are abolished, allowing naturalized German citizens to retain their Turkish passports.

Türkiye enters Euro 2024 with cautious optimism following a disappointing performance in 2021, where the team lost all three of its games and scored just one goal despite high expectations.

However, they topped the qualifying group for Euro 2024, which included World Cup semifinalist Croatia, losing only one of their eight games.

Under the management of former Italy and Roma striker Vincenzo Montella, who took over last September after coaching Adana Demirspor for two years, Türkiye boasts a dynamic midfield.

Key players include captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu of Inter Milan and 19-year-old prodigy Arda Güler from Real Madrid.

Türkiye will play its first two Group F matches against Georgia and Portugal in Dortmund, followed by a game against the Czech Republic in Hamburg.

Both cities are home to many residents of Turkish heritage, ensuring robust local support.

Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14 in Germany, with Europe's...