Turkish delight leaves bitter taste for rebuilding Germany

A late Yusuf Sari penalty took Turkiye to a 3-2 win over Germany in Berlin on Saturday, giving home manager Julian Nagelsmann plenty to ponder seven months from hosting Euro 2024.

Lightning-fast in attack, dogged in defense and buoyed by deafening support from the crowd in an 'away' friendly, Turkiye posed constant questions for Germany.

Kai Havertz gave Germany the lead after just five minutes but Turkiye headed to halftime in front, after two late goals from Ferdi Kadioglu and Kenan Yildiz.

Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fuellkrug equalized shortly after halftime but Turkiye would have the final say when Sari slammed in his penalty to secure victory.

Germany had not lost to Turkiye for more than 18 years — and not on home soil since 1951.

Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella celebrated his side's "first win against Germany in Germany for 72 years", saying "we felt it, the victory was rich in emotions".

"It's important for the Turkish people, also those who live here."

Nagelsmann criticized his players, saying "a couple did not hit the necessary emotional level and did not play at their limits".

Ilkay Gundogan, the first Turkish-German to captain Germany, told RTL "we were too lethargic, too passive, not purposeful enough and didn't move well in possession".

"We didn't generate the pressure against the ball that we wanted," the Barcelona midfielder added.

Montella's predictions of a "home" atmosphere were spot on, with the vast majority of the 72,592 fans at Berlin's Olympic Stadium drenched in red.

Around three million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, many in the capital.

The announcement of the host's starting XI was greeted with boos, as was every touch by anyone in black and white in the opening minutes.

Handed a start in the unfamiliar position of leftback, Arsenal forward Havertz repaid his coach's faith almost immediately, tapping in a pass from Leroy Sane after just five minutes.

Havertz's goal failed to silence the Turkish fans, who were rewarded with a two-goal burst late in the first half.

Abdulkerim Bardakci found Kadioglu with an expert long pass before the Fenerbahce midfielder hammered a brutal shot past a helpless Kevin Trapp.

Turkiye's second was a carbon copy of the original, with a cross finding German-born Yildiz, whose powerful shot bounced off the crossbar and the post before landing in the net.

With Turkiye on top, halftime came at the perfect moment for the shell-shocked Germans, who composed themselves to score immediately after the break.

Florian Wirtz carved through the middle and found Fuellkrug, the Borussia Dortmund striker taking a touch before hammering in a low shot.

Fuellkrug, who made his international debut at the age of 29 after spending much of his career outside the Bundesliga, now has 10 goals in his 12 Germany appearances.

With 20 minutes remaining, VAR found a Havertz handball in the box. Sari stepped up to the spot and converted, sending the stadium into raptures.

The result, in Nagelsmann's first match on home soil and third game in total, shows Germany remains in transition just seven months away from hosting Euro 2024.

Germany has won just three of 10 matches since its group-stage exit at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

AFP