If you didn’t know already, Turkish fans are crazy for football, even by lunatic football standards. They claim to have set the record for the loudest noise ever recorded at a match (132 decibels during a Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas derby), and Galatasaray’s nickname for Ali Sami Yen stadium in Istanbul is simply ‘Hell’.
We were lucky to be in Turkey for a must-win World Cup qualifier vs. lackluster Estonia, watching on the roof terrace of our Selcuk hotel. Estonia took a shock early lead, but Turkey ultimately prevailed 4-2 thanks to what our hotel host described as “Brazilian style” play. (Then again, everyone agreed that our host looked suspiciously like Turkey star Tuncay.)
Our viewing pleasure was enhanced by the spinning disco ball.
