Germany captain Michael Ballack believes Turkey's unpredictability makes the outcome of tomorrow's Euro 2008 semi-final in Basle too close to call.
The Turks have a mountain of injury and suspension problems ahead of their match against the highly-fancied Germans, but their never-say-die attitude makes them dangerous opponents.
Fatih Terim's men have scored last-minute winners in their last three games to progress to their first European Championship semi-final against all the odds.
And Ballack is not about to make any rash predictions in the face of such mercurial opposition.
"Turkey are certainly not better than us tactically, technically and in terms of individual players," said the Chelsea midfielder, who excelled in Germany's 3-2 win over Portugal in the last eight.
"But they are unpredictable and they won't underestimate any of us.
"Turkey have up until now always been brilliantly set up against their opponents and they almost have a bit of the German mentality about them.
"It will be a tough task, but we have a big chance of making the final."
Ballack is set to have Torsten Frings back alongside him in centre midfield at St Jakob Park tomorrow night, the Werder Bremen anchorman having returned to training after breaking ribs.
Indeed, Germany coach Joachim Low confirmed all 23 players in his squad were available for the match.
The situation is the exact opposite for Terim, who could be faced with the prospect of playing third-choice goalkeeper Tolga Zengin in an outfield position if he is needed off the bench.
The latest blow to befall the Turks came yesterday when UEFA turned down goalkeeper Volkan Demirel's appeal against his two-game suspension.
Volkan, Terim's number one stopper, was sent off in stoppage time of his side's dramatic 3-2 Group A victory over Czech Republic after pushing Jan Koller, and missed the quarter-final win over Croatia as a result.
He had hoped to get the ban reduced in order to play against Germany, but UEFA have upheld their decision.
It leaves Terim with four players - including Middlesbrough forward Tuncay Sanli - suspended, while Nihat Kahveci, Emre Gungor, Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin and Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu are all injured.
London-born Colin Kazim-Richards is available to Terim and he is backing his coach, who is nicknamed 'The Emperor' in his homeland, to do the impossible again.
"He is always instilling belief," the 21-year-old forward said of the former AC Milan and Galatasaray boss.
"He is incredible. He doesn't let your head go down - if it does, he shouts at you straight away.
"And believe me, when that man shouts you look. It's like nothing I've seen before. The coach gives us belief."
