Euro 2008

By Mark Meadows

BASEL, June 24 (Reuters) - Turkey can beat Germany in their Euro 2008 semi-final on Wednesday without needing a miracle, coach Fatih Terim said.

Late comeback wins over Switzerland and Czech Republic in the group stage and an equaliser in the 122nd minute of the quarter-final victory over Croatia on penalties has led to Turkey being hailed as miracle workers.

A triumph over Germany in their first European Championship semi-final would be even more remarkable given Turkey's raft of injuries and suspensions. However, Fatih does not want the term miracle being used.

"As far as I know there are three results you can get in football, there is no result called 'miracle' in football," he told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I don't think there is anything impossible. I laugh at those who say it is luck or a miracle."

Fatih said the only miracle was his troubled country coming together thanks to his team's success.

"In our country we have many crises and people who are not tolerant. But when the topic is football it unites people. Everyone seems to have united under the Turkish flag," he said.

"If you are looking for a miracle, that is the miracle. Everyone for just a few weeks has been able to forget their worries."

If Turkey go through, he said he did not care whether they faced Spain or Russia in Sunday's final. The pair meet in their semi-final in Vienna on Thursday.

PAID OFF

Germany played brilliantly to beat Portugal 3-2 in the quarter-finals but coach Joachim Loew said there would be no question of his side becoming complacent on their return to Basel.

"Turkey have proved that their morale is high," Loew said at the news conference. "They have had three great comebacks and we know it will be an intense match."

Loew had two spells coaching in Turkey early in his career and he said the progress made since then had paid off for the country in this tournament.

"In the past 10 years there has been a lot of progress, with the influence of more foreign coaches, and more of a focus on professionalism and training," Loew said.

"Maybe 10 or 15 years ago they would not have been able to come back in three successive matches.

"Turkey have always had excellent players but in the past they might have become demoralised. They have learned never to give up and they have belief in their own abilities."