Turkey's road to the finals

World Cup finals have not been seen by these fans since 1954

BBC Sport Online reflects on Turkey's qualification via a comprehensive play-off performance.

Despite appearances in European Championship finals, Turkey have not appeared in football's premier event since 1954.

After a comprehensive play-off win over Austria, the country has finally reached football's promised land.

Drawn in the same group as Sweden, the two teams were expected to go head-to-head for the one automatic qualification spot.

The predictions proved right, and a pivotal win on Turkish soil sealed the outcome in favour of the Scandinavians.

Qualifying campaign

W 2-0 Moldova (h)

D 1-1 Sweden (a)

W 1-0 Azerbaijan (a)

D 1-1 Slovakia (h)

W 2-1 Macedonia (a)

W 3-0 Azerbaijan (h)

D 3-3 Macedonia (h)

W 1-0 Slovakia (a)

L 1-2 Sweden (h)

W 3-0 Moldova (a)

Play-off

W 1-0 Austria (a)

W 5-0 Austria (h)

Full qualifying results

But as Turkey proved during their emphatic play-off victory over Austria, they are not a side to be underestimated.

Against the Austrians, Turkey produced an important away win to take a huge advantage into the second leg, where they overpowered the visitors 5-0.

Turkey's away form, where they won four and drew one, was their strength during the campaign.

Surprisingly it was their home form that let them down.

Two unimpressive draws against Slovakia and Macedonia meant they were always chasing Sweden.

And when it came to the crunch in the penultimate qualification game, home form again let them down as Sweden won 2-1.

Top scorers

6 - Hakan Sukur

3 - Alpay Ozalan & Okan Buruk

2 - Arif Erdem

Late goals by Henrik Larsson and Andreas Andersson cancelled out Hakan Sukur's opening 51st minute strike.

Sukur played a major part in Turkey's campaign and at the World Cup much will rest on his shoulders.

Okan Buruk is another key performer and it was his goals that fired Turkey past Austria in the two-leg play-off.

Buruk scored the only goal in Vienna before notching a second in the return, which Turkey dominated.

Bayer Leverkusen's Yildiray Basturk and the enigmatic Sukur both scored fine goals before Buruk struck again.

A second half brace from Arif Erdem sealed the win and sending Turkey to the finals and their fans into delirium.