German-Turkish Football match and Samosas-chickpea salad

It was 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2008 that I was interested in football. Before that time, I didn't know about the football before and I never wanted to watch them. I didn't understand why people were so happy to watch football matches. Probably, I didn't have a good chance to watch them in my country. And, the time of almost matches were at late night according to our standard time.   

Here, in Germany, I could watch them from TV channels easily. The time was also very suitable for me because it was in the evenings. There was a match that I was excited most during Euro 2008. It was German-Turkish match in Semi-finals. As you know, the population of Turkish  is nearly half of the total population in Berlin and they have strong national spirit. At that day, we went to the public showing area to watch the football match but we were late and couldn't go there. Every road in Berlin was full of German and Turkish audiences.Then, we went to one of my friend's home where our friends could watch together.We were still on the way while the match was starting. Turkey was ahead after 22 minutes, but German equalised quickly at 27 minute. Among the crowed people, we could see only the flags to know which team was leading. Anyway, German won finally by 3-2.   

Then, here comes about Samosas-chickpea salad. On that day, my friend (host) prepared the Samosas-chickpea salad for all of us. That salad is called "Ka Lar Gyi Thote" in Yangon. The ingredients for this salad are roughly chopped samosas, finely shreddded white cabbage, sliced (thinly lenghtway) shallots, some mint leaves, tamarind liquid and boiled chickpeas and boiled chickpea powders, boiled potatoes and some chillis if you like. If possible, you can add vada(Ba yar Kyaw) too. It’s an ideal salad for that time. We talked  once again about the victory of football match while we were eating.   

       

Now, the qualification matches for Euro 2012 has come again. On the day of German-Turkish match, coincidentally we were at the home of my friend who was the host 2 years ago. She prepared Smosa-chickpea salad for us too. And again, German won but not by 3-2 and by 3-0.   Anyway, we have to wait and see again if this coincidence will happen again in German-Turkish match of Euro 2012. Or, we can create it for Germany to win Turkey because I am always at the side of Germany since that days onwards. :)