15 - a marvelous comeback

Quite often I observed that the lives of people is somehow connected to that of their nations. It's that feeling in the air, rising from the collective imagination. The one that you can strongly smell in the stadiums. Something inspiring and heartening.

The person on the left, number 5, is Emre Belozoglu of Newcastle United. Tall guy on the right, number 10, is John Carew of Aston Villa. The instance was captured just before the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifications game between Norway and Turkey took place. Emre is looking at John, as he steps into the home field determined for a win. Of course Emre shouldn't have anything else in mind as well but he just doesn't appear to be so. At the very second, if Norway wins they get a ticket to Switzerland. If Turkey wins they win a solid chance to get that ticket from the hands of Norwagian team. A definite deal breaker for Turkey and an almost close one for Norway.

Games like these remind me of locksmiths. A couple of days ago, I left the keys inside my car and locked myself out. Then waited for this hopefully talented and well-equipped person to come and unlock the door. Confident but very heavy, this locksmith worked a couple of minutes before I got my keys back. This was actually the second time that I left my keys in the car, and the guy who seemed 10 times more unsure was quick to get in 30 seconds.

Things never happen in the exact way you think of. They just don't.

Norway scored a goal on the 12th minute. 1-0. It was no surprise for Turks thanks to their recent tendency to lose. On the 12th minute, there wasn't much to say for Emre. Amid dire silence among the Turkish supporters and the TV reporters, again there wasn't much... However for a comeback, the time was right. Turkey was in need for it... Like the way I did... It was the need for a locksmith...

Comeback of hope:

On the 31st minute, Emre sent a dipping shot into the net past the goalkeeper. Alone hope is nothing. But without it no victory is valid. It's a flower in a plain field that raises morale, unveils a possibility and makes you believe. And as David Schwartz proclaims when you truly believe that you can, your minds strive to find solutions to help you out.

Comeback of the spirit:

On the 59th minute, Nihat Kahveci of Turkey had a strong shot that made the ball fly into the bottom-left corner of the net. 1-2! Final score…

In team sports, unlike life, when one team wins the other loses. Åge Hareide, Norway's coach, told the reporters that it was the biggest setback of his career saying "we all knew we had let everybody down".

As far as "a marvelous comeback", one game is just a battle unleashing the hope for winning. Just like Emre's goal did.

One day if I can remember this game, I better remember that 28 minute between the two goals. It’s pretty much where we find ourselves.