Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Vienna

Friday's game between is being billed as the most emotional of Euro 2008 thus far - and with just cause.

According to one Croatian journalist, as many as 200,000 of his countrymen will be in Vienna for the quarter-final clash. Turkey fans will number in their thousands, too.

One 20-year-old Turk promised his team would get all the backing they need as they look to make the last four. "If we are strong, our players will be strong as well," he said. "For us, the streets are our pitch. We'll give it all we've got."

The Turkey squad has published a book of letters written by their players and coaches, who all reveal their hopes for the tournament. Almost all insist that preparations have been perfect, while several insist confidence is very high.

"We believe in ourselves more than ever," wrote stand-in skipper Nihat Kahveci, while Ugur Boral added: "We know what Turkish people are expecting and we''ll strive to meet those expectations." As for coach , he declared: "We are here to remind the whole world about us."

Now we all know the Croatians are a patriotic lot as well, so I don't think they'd be too perturbed by the noises coming out of the Turkish camp. Their players are certainly remaining cool under pressure. "I am nervous, but positively. I can hardly wait for the match to begin, to see what those Turks are like, and we will give everything of ourselves to win," said Danijel Pranjic.

And the message from coach Slaven Bilic seems to be a simple one. "The coach told us that we have to score one more goal than they do," said Nico Kranjcar.

Croatia go into the game as favourites after winning all three group games, including a victory over Germany.

But there may be a trend developing that could spell disaster for Bilic and co. Portugal rested their star players ahead of the game against Germany and ended up . Will the same fate befall Croatia, who employed the same tactic, not to mention the Netherlands and Spain?

Whatever happens, I'm planning to take a trip to Fan Zone in the centre of the city to experience the atmopshere for myself. It's already boiling up nicely. I'm thinking that wearing red and white is the way to go.