But Turkey have been making steady progress over the last decade and have finally emerged as a team equipped to compete at the highest level.
Evidence of their improvement on the international stage was clear to see at Euro 2000.
After losing their opening game 2-1 to eventual finalists Italy, the Turks bounced back to draw with Sweden and defeat host nation Belgium - qualifying from their group at a major tournament for the first time.
They may have lost to a hugely talented Portugal in their quarter-final but went home instilled with the self-belief that they could compete with Europe's top teams.
And the advances made by the international team have also been mirrored at domestic level.
Turkish sides have always suffered from acute travel sickness, never making the progress in European competition that their home form suggested they were capable of.
Then came the watershed.
Galatasaray defeated Arsenal in Copenhagen to win the 2000 Uefa Cup final- the first ever European trophy won by a Turkish club.
It was a real shot in the arm for Turkish football, a win that smashed any nagging doubts that their teams were not able to topple Europe's major players.