AP:Terim relies on foreign-based strikers for Turkey's success

Turkey's national soccer team coach Fatih Terim talks during an interview with the Associated Press in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 17, 2008. Turkey is in group A with Portugal, Switzerland and Czech Republic in the Euro2008, European Soccer Championship finals which will take place in Switzerland and Austria in June.
(AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)




Turkey coach Fatih Terim will pin his hopes of success at next month's European Championship on a pair of overseas-based strikers.

The Turks, who have struggled a bit since reaching the 2002 World Cup semifinals, will likely have Nihat Kahveci and Tuncay Sanli up front when they face co-host Switzerland, Portugal and the Czech Republic in Group A.

"They are already playing in Europe's top leagues, and they are playing good," Terim said. "I hope they will keep scoring for us as well."

Kahveci, who has evolved from a promising right-winger into an established striker since his arrival in Spain in 2002, led Villarreal in scoring this season. The 29-year-old forward helped the team secure second place behind Spanish league champion Real Madrid.

Sanli wasn't as prolific in the Premier League, going scoreless for a 12-game stretch, but he still managed to knock in eight goals in his first year at Middlesbrough.

Behind the favoured pair will be Mevlut Erdinc of Sochaux, who scored 11 goals in the French league and made his international debut in a disappointing 2-2 friendly draw with Belarus in March.

But Terim said his attacking force is not limited to his strikers. He likes it better when his players can move wherever they want on the field to create more chances.

"You will see the team as a whole," Terim said. "You will see a team without too much distance between the columns of players. The 11 players will act as one piece."

Another key player will be Mehmet Aurelio, the Brazil-born midfielder who has been a mainstay in Turkey's lineup ever since he became a citizen of his adopted country.

Although Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2004, the team reached the quarter-finals at the 2000 tournament in the Netherlands and Belgium, advancing behind Italy in its group but eventually losing to Portugal.

The match against Switzerland, Turkey's second of the three in the first round of this year's competition, will likely bring up some bad memories.

The Turks and Swiss played in a two-leg playoff for a spot in the 2006 World Cup. Switzerland won, but the final match ended in a brawl believed to have been instigated by an assistant coach for Turkey.

The scuffle between the players in Istanbul prompted FIFA to order Turkey to play its following six matches at neutral venues with no fans. The world governing body of soccer later reduced the punishment to three games.

Terim said what happened was unpleasant, but that it was history.

"What happens in football, stays in football," Terim said.

Source:AP

TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM IN GERMANY...

After a five days get together with the family members and relaxation in Antalya ,Turkish National team is in Germany a small town of Marienfeld

They did their first work out in Germany.

The work out started with American conditioner Scott Piri, than under Fatih Terim's direction they hold a light work out in the Hotel's soccer field.
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Nihat, Mevlut was not at the camp because of their league matches...

They will joined the team on Monday....

On the other hand, Servet, Gokhan and Ugur Boral did not participate in the both practice session on a first day in Germany.

Turkey will have a friendly match against Slovakia on Tuesday.

TERIM:" I HAVE CALLED UP, BEST FORMED PLAYERS"

TERIM:" I HAVE CALLED UP, BEST FORMED PLAYERS"

Fatih Terim is under a lot of pressure not calling Mehmet Topuz from Kayserispor and Hakan Sukur from Galatasaray.

I think he made a huge mistake not calling Mehmet Topuz...

He is bright, up coming, versatile player that Turkey should and must have!....

At the press conference in Antalya , Fatih Terim Said "Concerning the non-inclusion of Hakan Sukur and the assigned forward, he stated: "Semih, Nihat, Halil and Mevlüt are in better shape than everyone else. I chose them for this reason. There is no need to explain them one by one. Not just Nihat, Halil, Mevlut and Semih, I would even assign Yıldıray for that position. Semih is the best scorer in Turkey. Nihat is the best in Spain. Halil makes significant contributions to Schalke. Mevlut is a different choice for us." Terim stressed that Servet Çetin and Gökhan Gönül's injuries did not surprise him. "Since the group matches, we have been experiencing difficulties due to injuries. In some matches, all of our 11 players had injuries. Injuries Gönül and Cetin suffered here surprised us. I hope we see no more injuries during the preparations in Germany. I have no doubt that Servet will play in the championship," he noted.

Terim defended his decision on the composition of the squad. "This is our decision. Everyone wants to play for the national team in a European championship. But I listed those players who I think deserve to go," he said.

The coach of the Turkish national team also commented about his enthusiasm in attending a European championship after 12 years. "I always feel the same enthusiasm. I feel it in my bones. In 12 years, many players left the squad, but one thing remained the same. You will go there and be successful. You have to be successful. My enthusiasm and ambition are not at the highest level. If not for these, I would not be here," he said. Terim added that they decided to play against Slovakia, Uruguay and Sweden since their styles are closer to their rivals.


Source:Ahmet Turgut and Turkish wires

SWEET DEAL TO TUGAY.....

Blackburn offer one more year to Tugay and more!

Tugay has been offered a new contract and a coaching chance in the youth level!...
According to a tiny snippet in the Daily Mail, Rovers have offered the 37-year-old midfielder a one year contract that includes..... a role coaching Rovers' youngsters.

ARSENAL AFTER NURI SAHIN

According to Dutch daily De Telegraaf,Arsenal soccer team is interested in recruiting Nuri Sahin, now on loan to Feyenoord by Borussia Dortmund.

Nuri Sahin, a 19-year-old Turk, is owned by Borussia Dortmund, with whom he became the youngest ever Bundesliga player when he made his first-team debut back in August 2005.

Since then, the German-born midfielder risen to fame winning international recognition with the national team of Turkey.

At the moment he has a one-year rolling contract with BVB, with the German side having previously allegedly turned down a 3 million British pounds bid from Arsenal for the young star.

Newspapers report the value of Sahin is up and it could take 10 million pounds for Arsenal to transfer him.

YOUNG U-17 NATIONAL TEAM PLAYING IN THE SEMI-FINALS

Young Turks(U-17's) will face France at the Mardan Sport Complex in Tuesday's UEFA European Under-17 Championship semi-finals before holders Spain take on the Netherlands at the Antalya Atatürk Stadium.



2005 winners Turkey, who finished ahead of the Netherlands by holding Serbia 0-0 will return for a third game at the Mardan Sport Complex. This time they take on 2004champions France, Group B runners-up behind Spain on goal difference following a 2-0 win against Switzerland, with the game starting at 6.30pm(11:30 ET ) local time.

That stadium will also stage Friday's final at 7.30pm (12:30,ET)local time.

Spain against Netherlands
The southern Turkish city's main stadium is staging one match in these finals, kicking-off at 9pm local time (2:00 ET). Spain, first in Group B having beaten the Republic of Ireland 3-1 tonight, play a Netherlands side who ended second in Group A after defeating Scotland 2-0, and are the only survivors not to have won this trophy in the past though they did reach the 2005 final.

Watch the matches live here free...........

FATIH TERIM CALLED UP ANOTHER DEFENDER

Defender Emre Gungor from Galatasaray was added to Turkey's preliminary European Championship roster Monday,after Gokhan Gonul and Servet Cetin was discovered with injuries.

Gungor's inclusion brings to 27 players Turkey manager Fatih Terim has called into training camp along the Mediterranean coast in preparation for friendlies against Slovakia, Uruguay and Finland before the European finals set for June 7-29 in Austria and Switzerland.

The squad will remain in camp in Antalya until Saturday, when it will leave for Germany for its final preparations.

Terim must trim his squad to 23 before Turkey plays its group games in the Euro finals against Portugal, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.