Hakan Suker scores the fastest ever World Cup goal as Turkey beat South Korea 3-2 to claim third place.
Congratulate them on their excellent World Cup campaign.
This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.
I cannot say enough for Turkey. Gorgeous footballing display, gentlemanly conduct on the pitch, passionate gamesmanship, a heart that never quails no matter who they are playing against ... pure gold. You were my favourites of the whole tournament along with Korea. You earned all your honours, and more.
After the final whistle blew in the Korea v Turkey match, your rush to Korea's players in their hour of defeat just about sums up everything about you. I cried when I saw your flag in the stands. The sight of the two teams standing shoulder to shoulder mopping up all the love from the crowd together was the most beautiful thing I ever saw in this beautiful sport. You are a class act.
Jennifer,USA - from Korea
We are in a dream and nobody wants to wake up! Our team have shown wonderful team play and technique. Don't go anywhere world the story isn't finished; Turkey will win Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup 2006.
Baris Korkmaz, Turkey
Well done, Turkey! You are the best team and thank you for your friendship forever! We love Turkey forever; we are friends - congratulations on your third place in the World Cup!
Congratulations to the BBC for your impartial coverage. I was sorry to see Turkey's success being largely ignored by other British media. Forget about the tabloids, even the respectable broadsheets like The Times and The Sunday Times have persistently avoided even mentioning Turkey. Why?
Mehmet Toker, England / Turkey
I would like to congratulate the Turkish side for their brilliant performance during the 2002 World Cup. I was very impressed with their determination, team spirit and their skilful play. I wish them all the best in future competitions and to keep up the good work.
Mumin Yildiz, Turkey
Big congratulations to the Turkish side for their brilliant performance against s. Korea. Seeing Turkey's recent games can only make me an England fan very worried about our prospects in Euro 2004 after being put into a group with Turkey. Whatever happens from now on it will make for some very entertaining football!
Turkey deserve what they have achieved, and maybe even more. They had the Brazilians sweating twice, and with more luck could have made the final.
Turkey have a great team, in my opinion the star players being the spectacular goalkeeper Rustu and the until now substitute forward Ilhan Mansis.
I am proud that my team, Costa Rica, managed to pull a draw off Turkey, and hope, for the good of football, that Turkish football will continue to grow not only where the national team is concerned, but in league football, where Turkey is showing they have what it takes to shine.
Daniel Bullon,Costa Rica
Credit for both teams for making the semi-final such an entertaining one.Let us not forget the magnificent South Korean home crowd, they demonstrated great quality/character and sportsmenship. It has been a great show, many many thanks for those who took part.
Well done Turkey, you have deserved the third place and you were the best team of this world cup..congratulations...
Omer Berkman, Turkey/Australia
The spirit of sportsmanship that was shown by Turkey after their third place play-off against South Korea will always be cherished by football lovers for a long time to come. Well done Turkey and well done South Korea who never gave up until the last minute.
Azim Chowdhury, Canada
Thank you Turkey & S.Korea, not only for such a great game but also super game spirit. Turkey have proved that they really deserve to be in the semis if not the final. Hope to see you perform like this in the next World Cup.
I am ecstatic about the performance of the Turkish National Team which has not been taken seriously until now during this world event. I congratulate each and every player for their outstanding performance and drive to win. Best of luck in 2002 and 2004 events. We'll be watching you.
Sevda Küpoğlu Aleckson, Turkey
Turkey played a dazzling game and entertained millions of football fans. Congratulations and all the best for the future.
Qualifying for the World Cup Final after 48 years and making it to semi-finals is an exceptional achievement for Turkey. On top of that, the football they played was one of the most entertaining to watch. This is like a dream come true. I hope Turkey will now show the same success in other sports too.
Ozgur KG, Turkey
Thanks Turkey for giving us the most enjoyable games of the tournament.
Turkey and Korea showed that they didn't reach the semi-finals by accident and have every reason to be proud. Ilhan Mansiz of Turkey has once again proved what a jewel he is and completed Hakan Sukur perfectly.
Emre Karagöl, Turkey
Thank you South Korea! You have shown to be great football players and great friends. One day Turkey will forget the match but your friendship will stay in our memories for years to come.
Nadir Olgacay, Turkey
They should be very proud with the manner in which they played. I hope we will see them in similar form in four years time!
What a beautiful display of sportsmanship - taking the defeated team by the hand, holding their flag, and saluting (jointly) their supporters. Turkey have proved that they are so worthy of third place (if not more), Brazil and Germany have a lot live up to after this game. Absolutely wonderful, thank you Turkey and Korea, this is what the World Cup is all about.
We beat Japan in Japan, we beat South Korea in South Korea - But we did not beat Brazil in either. We could have, though. This team did their best and with a bit more luck they could have been World Champions. Maybe next time - It was a very entertaining tournament after all, and I congratulate all the opponents we faced...
Christopher Laird, Tokyo, Japan
Murat Mihcioglu, Turkey
Thank you Turkey. You certainly deserved this success, but third place isn't good enough for us anymore. Don't be surprised, if you see Turkey winning the World Cup in 2006.
RC Junior, Turkey
Congratulations Turkey! Sukur showed the best example of sportsmanship by holding hands with the defeated Korean players. I am sure that he has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world with his friendly gesture. He has changed my previous perception, that Turkish players are wild and tough. Thank you for showing real sportsmanship.
Congratulations Turkey. You have proved to be one of the best, most exciting and entertaining teams in the world. Thank you for making us so happy and proud.
I Can't wait for the European qualifiers to start - Turkey will no doubt challenge. We can now be considered a football power and we're here to stay!
Turkey proved to be one of the best teams in this tournament.
I congratulate all the Turkish team for making us proud and setting new standards for Turkish football.
Well done Turkey, I hope you play as well in Euro 2004.
Emre Macit, UK
Turkey played with tenacity and skill and had they a bit more polish on their finish, could have won. They were entertaining to watch. The much vaunted "entertaining" style of the Brazilians reminded me of a high school side. The Brazilian's could have lost, but ironically, they also could have scored 2 or 3 more goals if their very talented but clearly prima-donna strikers passed the ball more often.
I think Turkey have done very well. Forget losing to Brazil twice, their World Cup will be something to remember. They were in the semis because of great play, great set-ups and great football. Their team was well chosen, and they played some really great football, especially against China, scoring two very early goals. They did not have many weaknesses in their team; they played very well and should feel very proud of themselves.
Isaac Leigh, England
I congratulate all the Turkish team for making us proud and setting new standards for Turkish football.
Well done Turkey! See you on Saturday.
Turkey and South Korea have formed a good relationship throughout this World Cup. But a game is a game and I hope to see very passionate teams play a passionate game.
Bonis Y.S. Hong, S. Korea
Turkey played superbly. They had an attractive, attacking style of play and exceptional players in Rustu and Sas. I think the team has a bright future, but it has to further improve the finishing touch of its strike force to move up to the next level.
I am not upset to have lost Brazil because we proved that we are one of the best teams in the world. Congratulations to Turkey, you did your best and the world appreciates you. To show that you are upset by the results is a good sign for Turkish football; it shows that we can compete against the Brazilians.
Rustu is simply one of the best. I felt so bad for him when Ronaldo scored. No one, in goal or defence, could have stopped it.
Turkey, you gave a great account of yourselves in this World Cup and you'll be back, rest assured.
Congratulations for being one of the best football teams of the world. We are proud of you for what you have done so far. You are the champions of our hearts anyway.
Turkey could have had a more successful tournament if players out of form such as Hakan Sukur had not played.
Turkey has been the most inspiring team of the cup, with excellent organisation and flair. The rise of the Turkish team was not one of those 'cute' World Cup surprises, but the acceptance of a new top class team to the membership of the elite club.
Three cheers for the great Turkish players who have captured our hearts and minds! They showed that the dreams are there to be realized, the challenges and adversities to be overcome. They have every reason to be proud of the superb quality of the football they played and the skills they displayed one game after another.
Special thanks to the spectacular goalkeeper Rustu and the coach Senol Gunes, who himself was one of the legendary Turkish goalkeepers.
Sema Emiroglu,New York, USA
Gunes' decision to keep in Hakan Sukur in the starting 11 instead of Ilhan Mansiz was dreadful. He picked the celebrity rather than the man in form. Mansiz has shown brilliance in all of his substitute appearances. In the meantime, Sukur has done nothing but destroy team morale
Brady Jones, USA
With such good players Turkey can play football as well as anybody else. They have been one the best sides in this World Cup and we look forward to seeing them in action for Euro 2004. Congratulations for being brave in defeat and for an excellent overall performance.Jose Cunha,Luanda, Angola
Turkey can finish the Cup with your heads held high, you deserve it.
Mayra, Puerto Rico
Turkey getting this far had nothing to do with luck. They are one of the last four teams in the semi-finals because they've played great so far.
Turkey put up a brave fight and had a lot of chances. They could have won the game easily given the complacency of the Brazilian defenders. However, they lacked a world-class striker as Hakan Sukur was not 100% fit and Mansiz didn't have a proper chance. Good luck against Korea, you have good chances of winning as you're a more technical side.
Abdullah Celic, UK/Turkey
Turkey were a worthy opponents. They played bravely and proved they deserved to be in the Cup´s semi-finals. I hope they get third place - congratulations.
Fernando Lima, Brazil
Gunes said that we lost the game because the Turkish team do not have enough experience for this stage. Yes, he is right but we've got another question - does he have the experience to direct such a national team? We also keep in mind that we had alternative tactics and strikers instead of using the same formation and the same players each game. Anyway, we are very proud of them so thank you.
Although our team lost today's semi-final they proved to be one of the best teams in this tournament. They played with their hearts full inspiration and with a bit of luck they could have made it to the final. Congratulations and thanks to all of them for giving us such excitement and honour.
Rustu's only competition for the Lev Yashin award is Kahn and unless Kahn does it again in the final, it's Rustu for me. The bravest and most capable keeper I've seen in years.
Keith, Northern Ireland
Well done Turkey! You may have lost to Brazil but you gave them a very hard time. No doubt that Turkey has finally established themselves in the elite of European football. I am looking forward to see England lose against Turkey in the qualifiers for 2004.
Just think what might have been for Turkey if Hakan Sukur had been dropped for the semi final.
What an impressive performance by Turkey! I watched Turkey play in Euro 2000, and since then I know how well they can play. Well done Turkey, I hope you play as well in Euro 2004.
Although they lost to Brazil they will be considered as one of the new football powers in the world. Thank you for entertaining us and hope to see you soon - better and more experienced.
Dr. Mohamed El Laithy, Egypt
Turkey, be proud of your football team. England, be wary, this Turkish team is for real.
Simon Jarvis, England
We all know that Brazil is a very strong team but we also know that Turkey did their best and showed a great performance throughout the tournament. Although it hurts to see that they have lost the game after coming so far, the Turkish team have put so much happiness and pride in millions of hearts.
Excellent match - possibly the best I've seen in the entire tournament! The Turks gave Brazil a run for their money, especially in the first half. It is commendable that Turkey got to the semis, and along with South Korea and Senegal, they have been among the most pleasant surprises of this World Cup
I am not upset to have lost to Brazil as they are an extremely good team. We are proud of our team who have made it to the semi-finals and earned the respect of the world.
I was so impressed with the performance from Turkey. They can hold their heads high for having contributed to the best game in the World Cup.
Karim Moukaddem, Spain