Turks become 'German' in soccer frenzy

BERLIN, June 25 (Reuters) Turkey never made it on to the pitch at the World Cup finals but the soccer frenzy could prove a chance for its countrymen living in Germany to strike up a whole new relationship with their host nation.

Germany's relationship with its Turkish population -- accounting for the largest group of foreigners living in the country -- has often been difficult and distant over the past few years, said Celal Altun, head of Berlin's Turkish Community.

But now it could all change as a nation, surprised by its own soccer-fuelled, newly found national identity, seems to have been even more taken aback to find that their compatriots of Turkish descent standing right next to them, also happily waving the black-red-golden flag.

''This has come as a big surprise for a lot of Germans,'' said Altun. ''But the Turkish here have always felt with Germany and supported it -- the Germans simply never realised that.'' Europe's largest economy has long been at odds with its Turkish inhabitants who came as temporary workers to western Germany in the wake of World War Two, yet were never meant to stay.

In 2005, about 1.8 million people living in the 82.5-million strong nation held a Turkish passport, official data showed.

Experts estimate that another three million have Turkish ancestors.

For the last few years, it was the gruesome details of honour killings and rows about head scarves filling the pages of German newspapers which became unjustifiably synonymous for Turkish culture, said Altun.

TURKISH SNAPS As the German soccer squad warmed up on the pitch for their 2-0 win over Sweden in the knock out stages, Ahmet Fierat prepared more Turkish snacks in the Tadim restaurant in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, home to a lot of Turks in the capital.

''Of course I am supporting Germany. This is where I live --it's my home as well,'' said 28-year old Fierat, who has been living and working in Germany for the past six years.

Turks, Germans and other nations crowd the back of the restaurant in front of the big screen for every game, said Fierat, especially the Germany matches.

Outside on the street a group of young Turkish girls walked past, a German flag in one hand, a Turkish in the other.

But the unifying soccer experience all by itself will not have a longer lasting effect on integration, said Sabine von Oppeln, a political researcher at Berlin's Otto-Suhr-Institute.

While something like the World Cup could provide impulses, winning soccer matches can never be a tool to repair the cracks in the social system of a society, she said.

''Events like the World Cup push societal deficits on the back burner. But at some point people are waking up from their delirium,'' said von Oppeln.

''Even if Germany wins the tournament, people will then realise that the sales tax is going up, the burden on them grows and the social divide widens,'' she said.

Fierat just hopes that once the World Cup is over, Germans might keep some of their new found enthusiasm and friendliness towards their own country and their visitors alike.

''The Germans are often a bit colder towards us Turks I would say, but they are a lot friendlier since the World Cup has started and maybe they are going to stay that way -- who knows?'' REUTERS PM VV1225