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Digg ThisBy Mark Meadows
BASEL, June 26 (Reuters) - Turkey's Kazim Kazim said on Thursday his team's strong showing at Euro 2008 could only bode well for the 2010 World Cup and that his own performances had helped his profile in the international game. Unfancied Turkey were unfortunate to lose 3-2 to Germany in Wednesday's semi-final in Basel with Philipp Lahm grabbing a 90th minute winner.
Kazim, who combines attacking and midfield roles, hit the bar twice during the game to enhance his reputation having been unknown on the international stage heading into the tournament.
"That's exactly what I wanted. Obviously that's what it was going to bring anyway, playing in the tournament, but I think I had quite a good few games and it has done me no harm," he told Reuters.
The 21-year-old is better known outside Turkey as Colin Kazim-Richards, having been born and brought up in London.
He started his career at English lower league club Bury before moving to modest Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United. He joined Turkish side Fenerbahce last year but is keeping an open mind about his future.
"I am a Fenerbahce player but interest is interest and you can't stop interest. If the interest is worth thinking about obviously we'll think about it," he said.
The Turks, who also reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002, captured the imagination at Euro 2008 with some very late comeback wins and a dogged determination in the face of a mounting suspensions and injuries.
Coach Fatih Terim, who is likely to step down, also won fans for his dignity in victory and defeat.
"We thought at the start we could get to the semi-finals. We thought we could have gone on and won the tournament. Everyone has said we played better than Germany," Kazim added.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is the next target and apart from goalkeeper Rustu Recber, who is retiring from internationals, Turkey's squad is relatively young.
"In the team meeting afterwards we got over it pretty quickly. We weren't totally over it but immediately we started talking about taking that same spirit to the World Cup," he added.
"We will have round about the same team, the same players. We have the experience of being in the semi-final of a European Championship and now we can take it into the World Cup. You never know."
(Editing by Trevor Huggins)
