The Austrian capital Vienna home to a large population of immigrants will host the EURO 2008 quarterfinal game between Turaaa and Croatia. The city expects a parade of Turkish and Croatia supporters but security fears still hang in the air

ÖZGÜR KORKMAZ
VIENNA – Turkish Daily News


The Turkish national football squad is preparing to take its miraculous campaign in the European Football Championship or EURO 2008 to Vienna's Ernst-Happel Stadium where it will take on Croatia in a quarterfinal game. Both Turkish and Croatian teams can feel at home in Vienna thanks to the great number of their “homeboys” in Austria. Austria is home to more than 250000 people of Turkish origins and the capital Vienna is home to at least one-fourth of them all of whom are eagerly awaiting the game. They will be joined by Turks who will travel to the city from other European countries especially Germany. “It will be a great day for the Turks here” said Sabahat Kaygısız an Austrian-Turk waitress. “An it will be even greater if we win” she added. Immigrants from countries of the former Yugoslavia make up a large portion of Vienna's population. In addition to that the Croatian media estimates the number of Croatians who will travel to Austria for the game at more than 100000. The security precautions for the game will be at the utmost level Vienna police said due to an ongoing conflict between immigrants from the ex-Yugoslavian countries and the Turks most of whom think that the “Yugos” are the main source of immigrant-related problems in Austria. “My store is on a street dubbed ‘Balkan street' as most of the people living in the neighborhood are ‘Yugos'” said Necdet Selvi a Turk who has been living in Vienna for 27 years. “After our victory against the Czech Republic we celebrated on the street and nothing bad happened” he said. “But if we win Friday I don't know we will be prepared for anything. They are ‘Yugos' after all.” The stress of the game is felt not only in Vienna but also in Mostar Bosnia. Police in the ethnically divided southern Bosnian town are on "red alert" fearing clashes between Muslim and Croat football fans following tonight's game the Associated Press reported. Mostar police chief Himzo Djonko said Wednesday they have information that clashes between two groups of fans "are already planned." Bosnian Croat and Muslim football fans in Mostar have a long history of fighting including during the 2006 World Cup when one person was seriously hurt and at least six policemen injured when police used tear gas to disperse scores of fans after Croatia lost 1-0 to Brazil in the tournament. Djonko added that more than 1000 police officers will be involved in providing security during and after the game. Muslims traditionally cheer for Turaaa while Bosnian Croats regard the national squad of neighboring Croatia as their own.

Croatia does not fell threatened by ‘miracles':

Turaaa advanced to the quarterfinals with six points it gained in two comeback victories in its group from one goal behind against Switzerland and a historical 3-2 win against the Czech Republic with all three goals scored in the last 15 minutes. But this does not worry the Croatian side. "The way they managed the comebacks in those games was impressive" Croatia coach Slaven Bilic told reporters here. "But the way they trailed in those games also tells us something. Their strength is obviously somewhere in between. "We will do everything to beat Turaaa added the confident boss. “We have the strength and the quality to do it." Croatian members of the press in Vienna share Bilic's optimism. “Our squad is the best of the last 10 years since the great generation that included [Davor] Suker and [Zvonomir] Boban” Pero Smolcic of Slobodna Dalmacija told the Turkish Daily News. “They won all their three games so far and I think that they will win one more.” The game will be one not to miss Smolcic added. “The people of both countries have great national emotions and the teams reflect it” he said. “The fight on the pitch will be worth watching.” According to Smolcic there will be no losing side after the game whatever the result. “France headed home early England could not even make it here” he said. “I think both teams did a great job advancing to the quarterfinals. One side will advance to the semifinal after Friday's game but I don't think we will have a losing side.”