The father of Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok credited divine intervention for his son’s miraculous stoppage-time save against Austria, which maintained Turkey’s 2-1 lead and secured their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner nearly forced extra time with a superb late header, but Gunok’s stunning save ensured Turkey’s victory in what has been one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.
“My son’s stance and performance at the last second made me happy. Maybe the prayers of all football fans, along with me, prevented that goal,” said Mahir Gunok, a former goalkeeper and coach, to the newspaper Hurriyet.
Mert Gunok expressed his gratitude as well, saying, “It was a great victory. I would like to thank everyone who prayed for us; we still have a long way to go.”
Turkey will play against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday evening. This marks the first time since 2008 that Turkey has reached this stage of the tournament.
“I think that with this spirit of unity and solidarity, we will overcome the Dutch obstacle,” Mahir Gunok added.