Germany vs Turkey: The Fight over Talent

The Turkish community is the largest immigrant community here in Germany. Integration and its problems are often a topic, but football is one area where integration has worked better then in the general society. At the professional level it is a real success story!

For many young footballers of Turkish origin it is a question of Half Moon or Eagle? Turkey or Germany? For most it is a difficult decision then growing up in Germany with Turkish roots many feel they could play for both teams, but there are others who make an own decision at a young age.

The best examples are Real Madrid duo Mesut Özil and Nuri Sahin. Both come from the Ruhr Valley area from rival clubs in FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund. While Özil took the decision to play for Germany, Sahin at the young age of 17 decided to play for Turkey.

Other names which come to mind are former Bundesliga players Yidiray Bastürk, Hamit and Halil Altintop plus recently Werder Bremen's Mehmet Ekici and Leverkusen's Ömer Toprak. The last two have come through the German youth system and have represent Germany at youth level before switching to play for Turkey, where the competition at international level isn't as tough as it is for Germany.

Turkey has been making a coordinated effort to get young footballers of Turkish origin to play for the country of their forefathers. For that they have an office in Cologne run by former Bundesliga player Erdan Keser, who has 25 scouts under him across Germany. They look at young boys from the age of 15 and if of interest, they and their families are approached about playing for Turkey.

A difficult situation sometimes with youngsters having to decide which way their career can go, then playing for Germany and making it is a bigger career option then playing for Turkey with many boys ending up playing in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Tomorrow Turkey host Germany in a Euro2012 qualifier with Mesut Özil a doubtful starter. Otherwise the Real Madrid star would be getting a rough welcome from the country of his forefathers, who still are disappointed that he chose Germany over Turkey. Surely he won't be the last...