ARDA TURAN :I AM NOT A STAR

Arda Turhan gave a recent interview to FIFA.com web site and he talked about the Turkish football in general and him self.

Here is the interwiew,,,,,,,

FIFA.com: Mr Turan, are you Turkish football's latest superstar? Arda Turan: I'm not a star, just a good footballer and, most importantly, I'm a team player. I always give 100 per cent and I'm constantly trying to improve my game.

Do you want to stay in Turkey or would you like to play abroad one day?
I'm definitely planning on playing in one of Europe's top leagues at some point. It would be a great chance for me to represent my country and further my career.

Are there any teams in particular who you would like to play for?
Liverpool or Juventus would be great.

What is so special about the Turkish league and what is it like playing for an historic club like Galatasaray?
It's a fascinating league, but sometimes the pitches we have to play on aren't great and that doesn't make things easy. At Galatasaray, winning the title is always a must, and being part of a team like that means that you are constantly under pressure to succeed and have to possess a will to win.

The people in Turkey are extremely passionate and would never give up on the team they love.
Turan on the Turkish fans


The Turkish fans always create a fantastic atmosphere in the stadiums. Why is that?
The people in Turkey are extremely passionate and would never give up on the team they love.

Turkey currently lie in third place behind Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina. You've played in all five qualifying matches so far and scored against the latter. What does it mean to you to play for your country?
I'm a very patriotic person and have plenty to thank my country for, so pulling on the national strip means a lot to me. It's a great honour.

What would it mean to you to play in your first ever FIFA World Cup?
All the greatest footballers in history made their names at the World Cup, so I think it would be a big opportunity for me.

Turkey did not qualify for Germany 2006 but then made it to the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2008. If they do manage to qualify for South Africa 2010, what do you think they can realistically hope to achieve?
Our minimum goal has to be to survive the group stage. After that, provided we take each game as it comes, we have every chance of improving on our semi-final finish in 2002.

At EURO 2008, Turkey bowed out at the last-four stage to Germany after Philipp Lahm scored a late winner in a tight encounter. Was that the worst moment of your career so far?
The worst moment of my career was when I got shown a yellow card in the quarter-final, leaving me to watch the Germany game from the stands.

Turkey are currently 11th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. What is holding the team back from moving further up the list?
The more experience we gain, the more we will improve.

Do you have a role model and who would you like to swap shirts with?
Maradona is my favourite player because he was just so talented and I also admire Zinedine Zidane for his skills on the pitch. From today's players, it would be nice to swap shirts with Lionel Messi.

Who is the best midfielder in the world at the moment?
Kaka.

Do you have any plans for life after football? I would stay involved in football in some capacity, probably in the coaching side of things.

What are your goals for the rest of 2009?
To retain the league title with Galatasaray and win as many games as I can with the national team.

Source: fifa.com

GOOD START BUT BAD FINISH FOR TURKEY

First twenty minutes of the match Turkish National team had more chances against Spain.

They out played Spanish team in the first half but went down with a fluke goal in the second half.

Turkish National team just ran out of gas in th second half.

They could not do any set plays from back field and midfield.

And The players, who ran out their hearts out, in the first half of the match, was just tired.

Fatih Terim and Turkish National team not only loss the match, they lost their second place to Bosnia after Bosnia won in away match against Belgium.

Getting back to the match, In the sixth minute Turkish National team captain Nihat Kahveci fired a low shot just wide, after that Senturk brought a diving save out of Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Casillias was the day, savior for Spanish team.

Just before the half time Fernando Torres for Spain tested Turkish keeper Volkan Demirel from the edge of the area.

In the closing minute of the first half Arda Turan had a chance but he could not control the ball in the box and Casillias rushed out and got the ball .


As I said ,Fatih Terim's boys looked sluggish in the start of second half...

In the 61th minute the only goal of the match came.Xavi free-kick went to Sergio Ramos at the far post. The ball rebounded off Ramos' leg and bounced across goal to Pique, who forced home the rebound.

On this play, Tuncay Sanli's and keeper Volkan Demirel's timing was off..

Tuncay Sanli made a huge mistake as far as going up to head the ball and keeper Volkan Demirel did not come out of his goal line to get the ball.


After the match Fatih Terim speaking at the press conference said, "Spain deserved to win.After the goal, they played better. I congratulate them."

He also said , "Wednsday match will be different.Today we had three great chances. We did not take them, but it is clear that we can beat Spain."

Turkey host Spain in Istanbul on Wednesday while Second place Bosnia will be at home against Belgium.

So, the second place that Fatih Terim was talking about earlier in the week...

Saying that Spain will be first and Turkey will finish in second place in Group 5, might just be a empty promise!..

If Fatih Terim's boys loss on wednsday and Bosnia wins against Belgium, you could just kiss good bye to second place too..

Spain is perfect with 15 points on top while Bosnia sit on second with nine and Turkey one point behind on third. the Belgium has seven points.

AHMET TURGUT

Spain 1 - 0 Turkey Highlights

More football highlights at fcfootballblog.com

NIHAT AND SEMIH BOTH WILL START FOR TURKEY

The unpredictable man, coach of Turkish national team shocked every one again..

He will start Nihat Kahveci and Semih Senturk against Spain .

Is this a gamble or going all-out?...

We will find out....

We don't know if he is going to have two man at the top or only one.

Nihat also will be the captain of Turkey against Spain..

At the press conferense Fatih Terim said "There should be no doubt that it will be a hard match and we will be facing an extremely tough opponent,“The Turkish team goes out to win whatever the conditions and wherever we are playing,” he added. “We can win or lose but we will never abandon that philosophy.”

Here is the Fatih Terim's Turkish National team starting eleven.......

Volkan Demirle , Gökhan Gönül, Emre Aşık, Hakan Balta, İbrahim Üzülmez, Tuncay, Aurelio, Emre Belözoğlu, Arda Turan, Semih Senturk, Nihat Kahveci

On the other hand Spain also anounced startng eleven too

Here is the Spain starting line up.....

Iker Casillas, Joan Capdevila, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Xabier Alonso, Marcos Senna Da Silva, Xavi Hernandez, Santiago Cazorla, David Villa, Fernando Torres

Spain Is Ready,Is Fatih Terim's Turkey Ready?...

It is probably the most important and most exciting match on Saturday on the road to the 2010 World Cup.

Spain says they are ready for the big showdown with Fatih Terim's Turkish National Team, back-to-back.

Spain is perfect in their last 29 matches. They sit on top of group five in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification with 12 points in four matches. The Turkish National team is in second place with eight points.

Spanish Bulls coach Del Bosque, a former coach of Besiktas team, who was called by Turkish media as "Butcher of Yenikoy," when he was coaching in Istanbul, knows Turkish football and the players very well.

For Spain, striker David Villa, midfielders Xavi and David Silva, and defenders Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique have all recovered from minor injuries and will be available to play against Turkish National Team.


Star studed Bulls of Spain, who have five players from the Liverpool team, want to win these two matches.

What about Fatih Terim's Turkey? Is he worrying about his player's circumstances? Most of his players are from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.

Both teams are having a poor season in the Turkish Tirkcell Super League. This is a nightmare for Fatih Terim, but it's not the only problem.The Turkish National Team has a huge problem with defense.

I think this will be the weakest link for Terim and Turkish National team. Midfield and the keeper position look set in Fatih Terim's mind for Saturday .

The other problem area is the forwards.

Will it be Semih Senturk or Nihat Kahveci?

Will he play 4-3-3 or 4-5-1?

These are the questions, I believe, Terim asks himself when he goes to bed.

Fatih Terim is very good at giving players an extra push with his unusual style of coaching from the sideline and before the big matches. He knows this is a big match for him and the Turkish National team.

He even tells his players, "If we beat world's number one team Spain in their own house, every one in the world will talk about us." Last time Turkey beat Spain was in 1945, and Turkey won the match 1-0.

So, nothing is impossible.

Spain is the Europe's and World's best team. But, "comeback kings" of Europe, who finish third in the last European competition. Turkey playing with their soul and pride could pull a upset score in Spain on Saturday

AHMET TURGUT

Sivasspor's Secret to Success..."Lack of nightlife "

Sivasspor Coach Bulent Uygun

These words came out of the mouth of Sivasspor Rookie coach Bulent Uygun.

If you remember , just about ten days ago, this is the man who demolished the sidelined booth after getting out of the control on the sideline match against Ankaraspor.

But, His team sits on top of the Turkcell Super League ,ahead of Istanbul Giants...

Bulent Uygun who was invited to panel in his home town Sakarya...

There, he made some interesting remarks about the success of Sivasspor.

He said,their success is partly due to the lack of nightlife in Sivas.

"There are only a few shops where my players can buy drinks but I'm in contact with the shop owners, so I am informed as soon as one of my players buy drinks and I warn him."

The city of Sivas in the middle of Anatolia and Sivasspor are top of the Turkish Turkcell Super League with 50 points, ahead of Besiktas who has 49 points.

Sivasspor fans are dreaming that the Sivaspor club could break Istanbul's 24-year stranglehold on the league title.

TEAMMATES AGAINST EACH OTHER IN SPAIN V TURKEY MATCH

Photo courtesy of www.as.com

Mehmet Aurelio and Juanito ,they both play for Betis team in the Spanish league but, on Saturday, when Spain host Turkey in Madrid thy will be playing against each other.

Mehmet Aurello who is Brazilian and became a Turkish Citizen to play on the Turkish National team and he is the brain of the Turkish National team.

On the other hand his teammate Juanito, play for Spanish team and he is also driving for the Bulls on the defense.

The Spanish newspaper AS , has done a great interview in Spanish , with them.

It is very good article and I translated for our readers, that interview...

Here is the Interview...

AS: Did you know that in 1954 Turkey abolished Spain Switzerland World Cup 1954 draw? A boy named Franco Gemma was innocent hand pulling the ball which decided the tie. Then there were no penalties.
Mehmet Aurelio: Really? I did not know anything. Very strong! By draw! That's not happening now, if only because I hope that the two are in the next World Cup.

Juanito: Yes it did. It is a very famous case. It is very hard to remove you, but if above is by lot had to be very hard.

Which player is the opponent who most fear?

Mehmet.A: I because they are all great footballers. But if I have to say a name, Torres and Villa. They are two killers!

J: Turkey has shown great progress in recent years. He has very good players. Care must be taken to Nihat, but also has a Sentunk, Tuncay, Serco Yildren, Emre You know what? I'd rather have a partner who as Mehmet Aurelio as a rival, is a magnificent player.

What do you think about the opponent?

J: Turkey is among the ten best teams in the world is not by chance. In the Euro in Austria and Switzerland were eliminated Germany in the semi, but were quite unlucky. They do a great job and are very organized but perhaps her back is the weakest.

Mehmet.A: Spain is now the best selection of the world. Better than Brazil? Hard to say but because it now for over two years without winning and losing all his rivals.

Are you happy to be with his selection?

Mehmet.A: Absolutely! I was born in Brazil. But I was seven years in Turkey. It is a great country and changed my name to that of Marco Mehmet Aurelio. Say it was a Turkish conqueror.

J: I am pleased. I could play 25 games is very good and also I've been on many calls. It's a privilege to be agreed on a!

I do not deny that the game is very interesting.

Mehmet.A: Absolutely! It will be a spectacle.

J: What is more unusual is going to have to do is to play two games so often.

Spain has summoned Güiza and Turkey's Nihat. What do they have to say?
MA: Güiza is doing very well at Fenerbahçe. Are happy with it.

How about the environment that you can live in the Santiago Bernabéu?

Mehmet.A: It's a magnificent stadium. Is filled. There will be a great atmosphere like our field back in the game. Our fans are extraordinary. For his way of encouraging very similar to Brazil.

J: Playing in the Bernabéu is a pleasure because it is one of the great world stage.

In Spain, Turkey and the people are with their selections?

Mehmet.A: We are greatly encouraged. They are very warm and live it with great passion.

J: The selection has always had great pull, but since the Euro rioja, people are turning even more.

What do you think that Raul is not called?

Mehmet .A: It's a great player and is making many goals, but that Spain has many good forwards. I imagine that the Spanish coach will not be an easy decision to choose when you have so many good players.

J: It is a decision of the selector. ¿Debate? I think I must be more tired for this debate is the Raúl.

Who will win?

Both at once: "We classify them and us both to the World."

Source: www.as.com

Turkish Coach in Canadian Soccer League..

Ugur Cimen who coached in Konyaspor team will be coaching in the Canadian professional soccer league.

North York Astros from Canadian Soccer league signed Ugur Cimen.


According to Leagues web site Ugur Cimen, 34, a coach at various levels with Konya Spor from Turkish Super League from 1995 until January of this year, has been with Konya’s first team since 2003. He arrived in Toronto recently with his wife, Tugba and one-year old son, Kagan and came to terms with the Astros early March.

North York Astros’ general manager Bruno Ierullo spoke highly of his new coach. “We are delighted to have Ugur in the Astros organization. He brings a wealth of experience and we are confident he will raise our level of the last two years even higher.”

Ugur Cimen becomes the ninth coach in North York’s 19th year history and Ierullo considers the club may now be well positioned for a top placing in the CSL’s National Division.

Ugur Cimen's North York Astros team will open the training camp on April 1th.