Turkish fans have staged a warm atmosphere in the Izmet Inonu, the football field of Beshiktas, just an hour before kick off. Even three hours before kick off time, fans have filled the streets around the stadium. Following the very friendly atmosphere that the Turkish team has enjoyed at the match played, the Turkish Football Federation wants to reciprocate.

There have been some incititing incidents with Turkish fans waving a big flag reminding the devastating genocide for the Greeks which occured in 1453 in Constantinoupolis (currently known as Istanbul) and the 1922 genocide in Smirni. FIFA has sent it's strictest officials in Istanbul to inspect the behaviour of the Turks to the Greek team. The atmosphere was very warm in the first round match in Athens, with the fans and the Greek Football Federation making efforts to highlight the friendship between the two people.

The inciting flags were quickly put aside 5 minutes after they first appeared.

At 20:30 approximately, the Turkish prime minister Tayipp Erdogan, entered the VIP section of the stadium. The Turkish prime minister was himself a footballer in the past.

During the Greek National anthem, the Turkish fans started shouting and condemning the anthem.

On the sports side, the Greek team went to Istanbul without it's suspended captain Thodoris Zagorakis and also the tower of the Greek defence Traianos Dellas.

Turkey: Rustu Recber, Tolga Seyhan, Emre Belozoglu (Sekan Balci, 79), Umit Ozat, Koray Avci (Tuncay Sanli, 46), Fatih Tekke, Yildiray Basturk, Hamit Altintop, Huseyin Cimsir, Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Necati Ates, 61), Ibrahim Toraman.

Greece: Antonis Nikopolidis, Takis Fyssas, Ioannis Goumas, Mihalis Kapsis, Giourkas Seitaridis, Angelos Basinas, Stelios Giannakopoulos (Vassilis Lakis, 67), Georgios Karagounis, Contantinos Katsouranis, Angelos Charisteas, Zisis Vryzas.

The Turkish team is trying to quickly open the score, but only a 6th minute shoot from within 2 metres from the Greek goalposts seemed threatening for the Greek goalkeeper. After the first 12 minutes from kick off, when the Turks were making serious efforts to score an early goal, the Turkish team seems to have stopped it's efforts.

The efforts to create some good chances near the Greek goalposts by the Turkish team have been suspended by an excellent Greek defence and the Greek midfielders. Furthermore, the stress is pressuring up on the Turkish team, with the Greek team being the definitive leader in the match.

36 min - Haristeas nearly scored with a header from the shot that did the Greek captain Zissis Vryzas. 20 seconds later, Karadeniz was booked for a hard tacklin on Karagounis.

44 min - Katsouranis was booked for a hard tacklin and will miss the next match against group leader Ukraine in Athens on Wednesday.

45 min - Basturk was booked after kicking Gkoumas.

HALF TIME.

Turkey begins the second half with striker Sanli replacing the midfielder Avci.

49 min - Tekke was found unmarked and nearly scored with a header after a pass from Ozat.

54 min - Giannakopoulos hit the goalpost after a pass from Haristeas with a hard shot. This was the greatest chance in the whole game.

55 min - Karagounis made a shot 10 meters from the goalkeeper's area and Rustuk made a great save pushing the ball out of the field.

61 min - Substitution. Ates replaces Cimsir.

66 min - Substitution. Lakis replaces Giannakopoulos.

69 min - Sanli makes a strong shot near the penalty spot and the ball passes inches from the goalpost.

71 min - Tunsai makes a header in front of Greece's goalkeeper but misses the net for a few inches.

73 min - Kostas Katsouranis manages to send the ball out of the field after the Turkish striker Basturk makes a pass near the right goalpost of Antonis Nikopolidis. Katsouranis has proven to be a key player of the Greek defence.

74 min - Emre is carried out of the pitch after sufferring a cramp on his leg,

77 min - Lakis looses a great chance after failing to control the ball just a few yards from the Turkish goalpost, after a pass from Haristeas.

78 min - Emre is substituted by Balci, as the problem with his leg does not permit him to continue.

79 min - Turkey wins another corner, as a shot by Sanli is charged down.

82 min - Baslin passes the ball to Tekke, but is late to shoot, leaving the Greek goalkeeper easily picking up the ball.

Turkey keeps trying to score but the defence of the Greek team defends well.

85 min - Karagounis is booked for a hard tackle on Basturk.

85 min - A deep left wing cross is gathered easily by Greek keeper Nikopolidis.

85 min - Basturk is sent off after speaking bad to the referee Marcus Merk, a positive development for the Greek team.

FULL TIME. Turkey 0 - 0 Greece.

Greeks holds the second place of the 2nd group of the European qualifiers, keeping it's hopes for qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.