TURKEY continue their Euro 2020 adventure against Wales – but there’s nothing they like more than a little bit of competition.
Take their national anthem for example – it was put together in 1930 using the best of 724 poems submitted as part of a national contest.
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And instead of turning to a musical maestro they simply launched another competition to find the melody.
Turkey will be hoping to pull the strings against the Welsh – but in reality could be left singing the blues at the end of 90 minutes.
What are the lyrics to İstiklal Marşı?
Verse 1
Korkma, sönmez bu safaklarda yüzen al sancak;
Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.
O benim milletimin yildizidir parlayacak;
O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.
Verse 2
Çatma, kurban olayim çehreni ey nazli hilal!
Kahraman irkima bir gül! ne bu siddet bu celal?
Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarimiz sonra helal,
Hakkidir, Hak’ka tapan, milletimin istiklal!
What are the lyrics in English?
Verse 1
Fear not, the crimson flag, waving in these dawns will never fade
Before the last hearth that is burning in my nation vanishes.
That is my nation’s star, it will shine;
That is mine, it belongs solely to my nation.
Verse 2
Oh coy crescent do not frown for I am ready to sacrifice myself for you!
Please smile upon my heroic nation, why that anger, why that rage?
If you frown, our blood shed for you will not be worthy.
Freedom is the right of my nation who worships God and seeks what is right.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk