Croatia vs Turkey Live Commentary
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Fatih Terim: "No Excuses"
Head coach Fatih Terim gestures during a training session of the national soccer team of Turkey in Vienna, Thursday, June 19, 2008. Turkey reached the quarterfinal stage of the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
(AP Photo/)
Despite injuries and suspensions to deal with, Turkish National Soccer team coach Fatih Terim insists he has no excuses ahead of tonight's Euro 2008 quarterfinal against Croatia...
"We have no excuses," said Terim.
"It doesn't matter who plays at the back, in midfield or up front. What's important is how the players perform, not their names.
"All our injured players are important to us, but their replacements can do a good job."
Terim reserved special praise for back-up goalkeeper Rustu Recber: "We believe in him. He has lots of big tournament experience."
Having developed a reputation as comeback kings in this tournament, Terim is hoping his side make a good start against Slaven Bilic's Croatia.
"For once, we hope we can start the game well, but we're ready for 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalties and we've lost none of our bravery," insisted the Turkey boss.
UEFA postpones Turkey appeal
Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel will miss his team's quarterfinal against Croatia at the European Championship on Friday after his appeal against a two-match suspension was put back to Monday.
UEFA said Thursday that the "Turkish appeal will take place on June 23 during the afternoon" without further elaborating.
Demirel will be replaced by Rustu Recber, who will play his 117th international game, Turkey coach Fatih Terim said Thursday.
Demirel was banned for two games after he was ejected against the Czech Republic in Turkey's final Group A game in Geneva last Sunday. He knocked down striker Jan Koller in the final minute of the match, which Turkey won 3-2, and then sat on the team's bench in defiance of FIFA rules.
"I didn't approve Volkan's action. It wasn't necessary and it wasn't right," Terim said. "But the judgment (by UEFA) was too harsh. I hope Volkan will be treated like Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made a similar foul in my opinion."
The Turkish soccer federation was also fined $42,000 for improper conduct of its fans, players and officials following the match.
I wonder ,improper conduct done by officials could be, Fatih Terim's hitting and grabbing the fourth referee.
UEFA said Thursday that the "Turkish appeal will take place on June 23 during the afternoon" without further elaborating.
Demirel will be replaced by Rustu Recber, who will play his 117th international game, Turkey coach Fatih Terim said Thursday.
Demirel was banned for two games after he was ejected against the Czech Republic in Turkey's final Group A game in Geneva last Sunday. He knocked down striker Jan Koller in the final minute of the match, which Turkey won 3-2, and then sat on the team's bench in defiance of FIFA rules.
"I didn't approve Volkan's action. It wasn't necessary and it wasn't right," Terim said. "But the judgment (by UEFA) was too harsh. I hope Volkan will be treated like Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made a similar foul in my opinion."
The Turkish soccer federation was also fined $42,000 for improper conduct of its fans, players and officials following the match.
I wonder ,improper conduct done by officials could be, Fatih Terim's hitting and grabbing the fourth referee.
TURKISH SOCCER FANS GET READY TO PARTY...
IT IS A RED AND WHITE, WEAR DAY......
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING "COME BACK KID" TURKEY, ON FRIDAY!.....
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA ESPN TV WILL SHOW Croatia v Turkey ........MATCH LIVE
Follow Croatia v Turkey match with gamecast Live Score......
The streets of Turkey and Turkish soccer fans in all over the world ,are all set to be eerily empty on Friday night as Turks pack into bars, tea houses or just about anywhere with a television set to watch the national team take on Croatia in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals. That Turkey even made it to the quarter-finals came as a huge surprise to most.
On Sunday night, with 20 minutes to go and 2-0 down against the Czech Republic in their final game of the group stage, most Turks watching proceedings from afar where downcast.
Three goals in the final 15 minutes, though, sealed a stunning 3-2 victory as the country went crazy.
People waving Turkish flags started impromptu street parties as convoys of cars honked their way through the centre of almost every town and city in the country.
It was not so much the victory itself but the dramatic way the Turkish side came back that has lifted spirits so high.
Come on, come back kids do it one more time ....so, The Turkish soccer(football) fans all over the world ,will rise again!
TURKISH DEFENDER SERVET MIGHT NOT PLAY!....
Turkey defender Servet Cetin has been ruled out of their quarter-final clash against Croatia on Friday with a knee injury, leaving coach Fatih Terim with just 17 players to choose from.
'Servet will definitely not play tomorrow and if we qualify for the semi-final then it still looks difficult for him to play,' Terim told a news conference on Thursday.
'We have 15 footballers, two goalkeepers and we can make three substitutions. That is what we have.'
Turkey, who reached the last eight by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 in Group A on Sunday, have been without captain Emre Belozoglu because of a hamstring injury since their opening game.
Emre Gungor is out for the rest of the tournament with a calf problem while goalkeeper Volkan Demirel and Mehmet Aurelio are suspended. Midfielder Tumer Metin will also miss the Croatia match due to injury.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Turkey appeal Volkan ban
Turkish National Team have launched an appeal after goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was given a two-match suspension following his red card at the end of the 3-2 win over Czech Republic.
The Turkish football federation has also been handed a �33,400 fine due to the "improper conduct of supporters, players and officials" during and after that game.
Turkey produced an astounding comeback to reach the quarter-finals in their final group game after the Czech Republic took a 2-0 lead.
But there was an unfortunate end to the game as Volkan pushed Czech striker Jan Koller to the ground, forcing Middlesbrough forward Tuncay Sanli to take over in goal for the final minutes.
Turkey held on to progress to the quarter-finals, but not without further incident - Volkan retired to the bench rather than the dressing room after his red card, approximately 25 unaccredited individuals made their way into the dressing room after the match, and some Turkish fans attempted a pitch invasion.
But while the federation is not expected to appeal the fine, Uefa should hear an appeal against Volkan's suspension on Thursday morning - one day before Turkey take on Croatia in the quarter-finals.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim has indicated that veteran goalkeeper Rustu Recber will play if the appeal is rejected.
Rustu Recber back in Turkey Goal
a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xKj6pEbDhUVd-GRy4Ql_VhHyJlulOStreKbfSpOoLTreB32n-v37hBq5lYoiWm-RTddH202ZmY6L-y04qRLslWGL8PuctnWJ4buxGwwoAYbeB0H8uJWBRPR6TBGaHH1CBRzjKn4jqYWa/s1600-h/RUSTU_RECBER_WITH_AHMET_TURGUT.jpg">
Veteran Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber is set to replace the suspended Volkan Demirel in goal for Turkey's Euro 2008 quarter-final against Croatia on Friday in Vienna, coach Fatih Terim revealed on Monday.
The 35-year-old Besiktas Keeper will win his 117th cap as Demirel has been suspended following his sending off in time added on of Turkey's epic come from behind 3-2 victory over Czech Republic in their final Group A match on Sunday, which saw the Turks progress at the expense of the Czechs to the last eight.
Rustu is one of the two surviving members of the Turkey side that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.
It was also revealed on Monday that Turkish defender Emre Gungor is doubtful for the quarter-final, as the 23-year-old Galatasaray star suffered a calf injury during the Czech match.
There are doubts too over fellow defenders Servet Cetin and Gokhan Zan, who are also injured.
Turkish midfielder Mehmet Aurelio is definitely out as the 30-year-old Brazilian-born player picked up a second booking in the Czech match.
Veteran Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber is set to replace the suspended Volkan Demirel in goal for Turkey's Euro 2008 quarter-final against Croatia on Friday in Vienna, coach Fatih Terim revealed on Monday.
The 35-year-old Besiktas Keeper will win his 117th cap as Demirel has been suspended following his sending off in time added on of Turkey's epic come from behind 3-2 victory over Czech Republic in their final Group A match on Sunday, which saw the Turks progress at the expense of the Czechs to the last eight.
Rustu is one of the two surviving members of the Turkey side that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.
It was also revealed on Monday that Turkish defender Emre Gungor is doubtful for the quarter-final, as the 23-year-old Galatasaray star suffered a calf injury during the Czech match.
There are doubts too over fellow defenders Servet Cetin and Gokhan Zan, who are also injured.
Turkish midfielder Mehmet Aurelio is definitely out as the 30-year-old Brazilian-born player picked up a second booking in the Czech match.
TURKISH GOALKEEPER VOLKAN BANNED FOR TWO GAMES
Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was banned for two matches Wednesday after being sent off against the Czech Republic last week at the European Championship.
Demirel will miss the quarterfinal game against Croatia on Friday at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. The goalkeeper was sent off in the final minute of Turkey's 3-2 win in Group A on Sunday in Geneva for knocking down striker Jan Koller. He then sat on the team's bench in breach of FIFA rules.
The Turkish football federation was also fined 44,000 Swiss francs (€27,000; US$42,000) for improper conduct of its fans, players and officials.
"The sanction of the 44,000 (fine) and the two-match suspension for the Turkey goalkeeper was linked to the fact that after getting a red card, he sat on the bench when he was supposed to be out of the technical area," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said. "And we had some problems with some Turkish fans trying to enter the pitch, and also the presence of about 25 unaccredited people after the game in the Turkish dressing room."
Demirel and the federation have 24 hours to appeal the ban and fine.
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