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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Troubled Turkish National team will face Czechs on Friday !

 Fatih Terim's injury-laden Turkey seeks salvation in its second Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against the Czech Republic in İstanbul on Friday following a bitter start to the qualifiers with a 3-0 rout by Iceland. 

The other group matches on Friday pit Latvia against rampant Iceland and the Netherlands against Kazakhstan. 

The real test of Terim's third era started off with an unsatisfying performance and a subsequent loss to Iceland. The coach has been left in a disadvantageous position to turn the tables in his team's favor due to the unprecedented injuries and a forced reshuffle. Terim's starting lineup for the Czech Republic match will be a mystery for many. 

Schalke 04 defender Kaan Ayhan was the first one to leave the squad because of an injury to his foot and had to postpone his debut appearance with the national team. The 19-year-old chose to play for Turkey, even though he had been capped for both Turkish and German junior teams and could wait for an invitation from Germany. After the news arrived for Ayhan, five other players were reported to be absent in the Czech match due to their injuries, sending shockwaves across the nation. 

Top-choice goalie Volkan Demirel will miss out on action in the Czech Republic match and the ensuing Latvia clash. The real shock is in the offensive line. The regular strikers of the team, Burak Yılmaz of Galatasaray and Mustafa Pektemek of Beşiktaş, will be sidelined, whereas the team will also lack the offensive support from Bayern Leverkusen attacking midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who will be out due to an injury. One of the key defenders of the team, Bayer Leverkusen's Ömer Toprak, will also miss the game. 

In the absence of the key players, Galatasaray midfielder Hamit Altıntop has a chance to reclaim his regular spot in the national team as long as he manages to turn the liabilities into assets and show himself. The 31-year-old was last capped for the national team in a friendly against Ghana on Aug. 14, 2013, and he was the captain in that clash. He netted a total of eight goals for Turkey. He will return to the team after 14 months away. Altıntop has not fully returned to his old form following a string of injuries. He was sidelined for most of last season.

Altıntop has been on the pitch for a total of 91 minutes in the three games he played coming off the bench in Galatasaray this season. 

Ahead of the Czech Republic match, Fenerbahçe's substitute goalie Mert Günok, Kasımpaşa forward Adem Büyük and Gaziantepspor forward Muhammet Demir were included in the squad. 

Terim included two first-time players in the squad: Sivasspor's Ümit Kurt and Akhisar Belediyespor's Güray Vural. Speaking to reporters prior to a training session this week, 23-year-old defender Kurt said he is very happy to be included in the squad and he will do his best to represent his nation. Midfielder Vural said he hopes to be a permanent member of the team and thanked Terim for inviting him. He underlined that the next two games are now more important after the team lost to Iceland. 

Turkey will hope for history to repeat itself in this critical phase as it happily remembers a historic Euro 2008 campaign against the Czechs. Under the helm of Terim in his second stint with the national team, Turkey hit two late goals in the last four minutes to get into the quarterfinals of the tournament and kicked their opponents out. The match remains one of the memorable meetings of the two sides. In their last encounter, which was a friendly last February, the Czech Republic defeated Turkey 2-0 in Manisa, a western Turkish city. 

Source : (Cihan News )

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Besiktas and Trabzonspor looking for win in Europe !

After Galatasaray losing to Arsenal in the Champions League match with a huge score 4-1, Turkey's Besiktas and Trabzonspor will try to win today.

Besiktas will be in London and Trabzonspor will be at home.....

Besiktas will take on Tottenham  while Trabzopnspor host Legia Warsaw team at home.

Beşiktas's club competition record in England is two wins and five loses, including two humiliating defeats, a 6-0 loss to Leeds United on Sept. 26, 2000, and an 8-0 defeat at Liverpool Oct. 6, 2007.  


The two teams have met only once in the past, when Tottenham beat Besiktas 2-0 in the 2006-2007 UEFA Cup group stage.



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Trabzonspor will try to focus in the Europa League following a winless streak in the Turkish Super League. Trabzonspor  aims to win its second match in the tournament  against Legia  Warsaw .

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic's side is no stranger to Legia matches, and more importantly, to the victories against Legia as the two sides met in last season's edition of the competition and Trabzonspor won both games 2-0. 


Trabzonspor has only lost one of its last nine Europa League matches, when it was beaten by Italian giant Juventus in the round of 32 last season. Under the helm of Halilhodzic, the club remains undefeated this season. 



Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Galatasaray meets Arsenal again!

Galatasaray will be looking to take advantage of Arsenal's midfield injury crisis today as they look to pick up their first ever win in England

Galatasaray  never won in England in nine attempts, although they have defeated Arsenal before in the UEFA Cup final in 2000. 

Arsenal are also without long-term absentees Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Mathieu Debuchy. 

Arsenal and Galatasaray are both desperately seeking points after a disappointing opening round that saw the English club lose to Borussia Dortmund while Galatasaray  drew at home to Anderlecht.

Galatasaray not doing good in the Turkish Super Lig.....

New coach Cesare Prandelli is already rumored to be on the black list  while Chairman Unal Aysal has already decided to step down ahead of an early election in mid-October.

In London, the Metropolitan Police Force has put itself on alert with both Galatasaray and Besiktas fans in town. Beşiktaş play Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League tomorrow. English clubs have become weary of Turkish fans after several bad experiences.

The police force in London is taking extra precautions to ensure there are no problems between opposing fans.

"We are aware of the background of the two clubs and appropriate plans will be in place. We are also aware that the clubs will have supporters already based in London," a spokesman for British Transport Police.

"We are used to dealing with large numbers of fans and we are liaising with the clubs to make sure everyone is safe and on the move."

Friday, September 19, 2014

Trabzon win away match while Besiktas draw at home !

It was not good night for Besiktas but really joey for Trabzonspor in the Europa League ..

While Trabzonspor winning their match against Metalist in the last seconds of the match, Besiktas disappointed their fans by allowing goal at the 88th minute of the match !

Besiktas after missing so many chances  scored  in the 33th minute of the match by Gokhan Tore.

Missing chances and opportunities  went on with Besiktas in the second half too !

They were not good, as far as kicking the last touches to the goal ...


And they paid for it !

Huge mistake by Besiktas defense,  cost the team, two points!

In the 88th minute, Asteras scored the goal by Facundo Parras with a volley in the box !

Besiktas started the group matches with a huge disappointment...

It was the match that they should have won it easily...

Undisciplined players  on the pitch was the big reason for this...


On the other hand, Trabzonspor won their match in the very last seconds of the match in Ukraine !

As I mention before, Trabzonspor probably the best form team in Turkey at this moment ..

They will hurt a lot of team this year in the Turkish Super League,,,,,,

After scoring first in away match with Kevin Constant  , Metalist equalized the score  ...

At the very last second of the match (injury time ) ,Trabzonspor new transfer Avram Papadopoulos

scored Trabzonspor goal  and Trabzon won the away match 2-1 .

This was huge win for Trabzonspor  in away match....

I think, this Trabzon team will get better as they play more matches.

Trabzonspor and Besiktas will play their league matches on Monday .

Week 3 in the #STSL takes a start with one match on Friday  ..

Eskisehir will host Genclerbirligi ...


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Europa League:Besiktas at home while Trabzon will be away

Turkish teams Besiktas and Trabzonspor  takes a start in the  UEFA 's Europa League group matches on Thursday.....

Besiktas will face Greek team Asteras at home and Trabzon will be away in Ukraine, against Metalist Kharkiv 

For Besiktas, it will be first time they will face Greek side Asteras !

With Demba Ba being in the lineup ,Besiktas should beat Asteras at home.

Asteras is the weakest team in the Group C .......

Along Asteras and Besiktas, Totenham and Partizan teams are in Group C .

Besiktas's coach Bilic after a disappointing draw against Rize at home last weekend called on Turkish Football Federation as far as the domestic league scheduling  !


At the press conference after Rize match Bilic said this......

"There are 32 teams in the Champions League and 48 teams in the Europa League. Which team played on Monday?

None. None of the teams that play their matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday played in their domestic league on Monday. So why do we play on Monday? We represent not only Besiktas but also Turkey. I don't allege this as an excuse. But no matter what the result was this evening, I was going to ask this question"



He went on to say, "TFF should  create better fixture  for Besiktas " 

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Another team that represents Turkey in the Europa League,Trabzonspor  will face Metalist team from Ukraine .

Trabzonspor  looked really good against Fenerbahce at home last weekend .....

Although they did not score goals , they looked well organized on the pitch as a team.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic will rely on his Paraguayan star Oscar Cardozo. He  missed out on domestic league derby action against Fenerbahçe last week due to a hamstring injury but joined the training for the Metalist match.

 He is likely to be on the turf as Halilhodzic's strongest weapon against the Ukrainians. Trabzonspor will expect more from its new stars including Mustapha Yatabare and Majeed Waris, Kevin Constant and Essaid Belkalem on Thursday. 




Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Bad start for Galatasaray !

Let's face it...

It was a must win match for Galatasaray at home against Anderlecht ...

They looked very weak  at home...

With this kind of  football, it will be very difficult to beat other teams in the group !

Problem with Galatasaray is the midfield....

Players like Selcuk Inan in the middle is not producing !

I think, Prandelli  should start Wesley Snyder in the midfield where Selcuk Inan plays ...


GALATASARAY BARELY SNATCHES A DRAW !


Galatasaray drew against  Anderlecht 1-1 in UEFA Champions League Group D match .

Anderlecht were close to score as Belgian team's Guinean winger Ibrahima Conte's close range shot missed the target in the 26th minute .

Three minutes later, Anderlecht's 33-year-old defender Olivier Deschacht attempted a goal in the box, but goalkeeper Fernando Muslera managed a save.

In the 35th minute of play, Galatasaray mid-fielder Felipe Melo's shot from outside the box, but it was saved by goalkeeper Davy Roef.

Galatasaray's Turkish midfielder Selcuk Inan fired from a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 40th minute - the ball shaved the post. Roef did not even move.

The first half ended as a goal-less draw.

In the 52nd minute, Anderlecht's 20-year-old Belgian attacking midfielder Dennis Praet skipped two Galatasaray players outside the area and made a shot into the far-right post, the ball hit the post and went in, 1-0.

A close-range shot by Galatasaray's Macedonian forward Goran Pandev in the 57th minute wave saved by Roef.

Galatasaray increased the pressure on Anderlecht's half to score the equalizer.

Bruma had an effort at a goal in the 62nd minute; however, the ball was deflected by Roef once again.

In the 86th minute, Galatasaray's  Umut Bulut, looking for equalizer, missed a chance in the box.

In stoppage time, Galatasaray finally equalized when  striker Burak Yilmaz - assisted by his Cameroonian teammate Aurelien Chedjou - easily put the ball in the back of the net, ending the game in Istanbul as a 1-1 draw.

Group D

Galatasaray 1 Anderlecht 1

Borussia Dortmund 2 Arsenal 0


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Galatasaray hosts Anderlecht

Galatasaray starts its Champions League campaign with a home match against Anderlecht.

Galatasaray coach Cesare Prandelli has refused to label his side's opening Champions League opponents Anderlecht as the weak link in Group D.


"We'll play against an organised, very young and interesting team. They will be ambitious to impress. Therefore we need to be careful. We'll try to get three points with the help of our fans," he told www.uefa.com.
"Let's not call Anderlecht the weakest team in the group. Let's say the youngest. Just because they have played more matches than us, we won't have any fear of them."
The 57-year-old Italian expects playmaker Wesley Sneijder to play a starring role over the course of the season for Gala, who have taken four points out of six at the start of their Super Lig season.
"Sneijder is one of the most important players of Galatasaray. He has big quality. He showed a high-level of performance in the World Cup and before that for Galatasaray," added Prandelli.
Galatasaray will miss defender Semih Kaya, who is nursing a calf injury. Meanwhile, Anderlecht will be without goalkeeper and captain Silvio Proto and French defender Fabrice N'Sakala, both of whom are suspended. 
Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi is adamant his side will not just park the bus and hope for a draw.
The Belgian champions are unbeaten this season but face a tough test to extend that record in the cauldron of the Turk Telekom Arena although this does not faze Hasi.
"We haven't come here just to defend," he said. "We'll try to play our game as much as we can.
"We'll try to play in the way we do in our league and have possession. Will we get points? That depends on the tactics. If we can play our own game, why not?"

Galatasaray should score goal and goals in Istanbul today while  Anderlecht's top keeper is away. If Galatasaray wants to win.

The match starts  at 9:45 p.m.(local Turkey time)  at Galatasaray's Turk Telekom Arena in İstanbul. In the other Group D match, Dortmund hosts Arsenal at the same time.