Terim rejoices in Turkey victory

Coach Fatih Terim believes Turkey have elevated their standing in the game after beating Croatia on penalties to reach the Euro 2008 semi-finals.

Semih Senturk dramatically equalised in injury time of extra-time to send the game to spot-kicks and Turkey won 3-1.

"What has happened to us is unique in our history," said Terim.

"We have become one of the great footballing nations. Our people can rejoice. And if our people are proud of us then we are proud of them."

Turkey had scored last-gasp goals against Switzerland and Czech Republic to reach the quarter-finals and inflicted the same heartbreak on Croatia.

"We seem to always come back - we do it the hard way"
Turkey coach Fatih Terim

Turkey keeper Rustu Recber emerged as the hero during penalties after his error only minutes earlier had led to Croatia taking the lead.

Recber saved from Mladen Petric to confirm Turkey's win and book a semi-final against Germany on 25 June.

"We fought and fought and the players keep outdoing themselves," added Terim, who has seen his team lead for only two minutes out of 390 in the tournament so far.

"We seem to always come back - we do it the hard way and that's not easy to do. It shows just how good a team we are.

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"I tell my players never to give up. I tell them that they shouldn't be afraid of losing or conceding goals. This is football. You should never give up until the referee blows the final whistle."

The Turks were missing Emre Gungor, Servet Cetin, Emre Belozoglu and Tumer Metin - all injured - against Croatia while Demirel and defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio were both suspended.

And Terim will be without three more players for the semi-final after Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik each picked up their second bookings of the tournament.

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