COMEBACK KIDS DOES IT AGAIN...
Turkey defeats Croatia in shootout, 3 -1
Having watched this team come from behind for the third time at the European Championship, Turkey coach Fatih Terim is hoping Wednesday's semifinal match against Germany will be less dramatic but just as successful.
Semih Senturk scored a 120th-minute equalizer Friday for a 1-1 draw after extra time. One minute earlier, Ivan Klasnic gave Croatia the lead at Ernst Happel Stadium.
Goalkeeper Rustu Recber then saved Mladen Petric's spot kick for the Turks to win the ensuing penalty shootout 3-1 and complete their third rallying victory at Euro 2008. Turkey had come from behind to beat Switzerland 2-1 and then scored two goals in the final three minutes to beat the Czech Republic 3-2.
"We seem to always come back — we do it the hard way and never the easy it, and that shows just how good a team we are," Turkey coach Fatih Terim said. "We always come back and that's not easy to do. Let's hope that we can take the lead against Germany.
FATIH TERIM: "I NEVER GIVE UP"
"I tell my players never to give up. I tell them that they shouldn't be afraid of losing or conceding goals. This is football. You should never give up until the referee blows the final whistle."Terim only had 15 players from 23 to choose from due to injuries and suspension, and he will be without three more — Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik — after they picked up yellow cards to be banned for Wednesday's match in Basel, Switzerland.
"For us, it's important that we rest and then we will analyze Germany with our coach," Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop said. "The team has shown it's important to believe in ourselves and our coach. If we do that, there's no reason we can't still go far."
Arda, Semih and Altintop scored for Turkey in the shootout. Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic also missed for Croatia, while Darijo Srna scored the team's only penalty.
After a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation time, Klasnic gave Croatia the lead with a header in 119th minute. The first player to ever take part at the European Championship after a kidney transplant headed in Modric's cross from close range only 22 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
But before the Croatian fans had stopped celebrating with time almost up, Recber sent a long clearance into Croatia's box and the ball dropped to Semih, whose left-footed shot deflected off defender Robert Kovac and went into the top corner of the net with goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa rooted to the ground.
"It seemed like the match was over, then to concede a goal, then go on to penalties, gave a psychological advantage to the Turks," Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said. "This certainly isn't going to be easy to forget. Not only will we not forget this, this will haunt me for the rest of my life."We will probably weep for a few days, but such is life. We will be back."Altintop said he didn't have any time to worry about losing after Klasnic scored.
"We would have time to weep after the referee had blown the final whistle, so we had to play without fear," the midfielder said. "In football, emotions often don't have time to come into it."In a low quality match marked by defensive caution, a depleted Turkish team restricted Croatia to few opportunities by pressing in midfield and not allowing its opponent time on the ball.Srna threaded a pass behind the defense and Modric's low, sweeping cross was thundered against the crossbar by Ivica Olic from inside the box, and Niko Kranjcar's follow-up header went wide in the 19th minute. But both teams were too often guilty of taking the wrong option in the final third of the field.
Recber, playing for the suspended Volkan Demirel, preserved the scoreline in regulation time when he made an amazing one-handed save from a free kick by Srna in the 83rd. Recber was also the goalkeeper that helped Turkey reach the 2002 World Cup semifinals, where the team lost to eventual champion Brazil.
Lineups:
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Vedran Corluka, Josip Simunic, Robert Kovac, Danijel Pranjic, Darijo Srna, Niko Kovac, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Niko Kranjcar (Mladen Petric, 64), Ivica Olic (Ivan Klasnic, 97).
Turkey: Rustu Recber, Hamit Altintop, Gokhan Zan, Emre Asik, Hakan Balta, Mehmet Topal (Semih Senturk, 76), Sabri Sarioglu, Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan, Kazim Kazim (Ugur Boral, 61), Nihat Kahveci (Gokdeniz Karadeniz, 116).
Saturday, June 21, 2008
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.
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