With a win Besiktas could capture the first pace in group B !

Besiktas's victory in Napoli, has put the Black Eagles within a point of the Group B leaders. 

On Tuesday, Besiktas could capture the first place in the group with a win in Istanbul ! 

In the first competitive meeting between the teams, Besiktas twice let the lead slip before Vincent Aboubakar struck a late winner, his second goal of the game, to secure a 3-2 victory. Adriano Correia Claro had opened the scoring in the 12th minute for Besiktas but Napoli's Dries Mertens scored in the 30th minute to equalize. 

A Manolo Gabbiadini penalty in the 69th minute, with Lorenzo Insigne having earlier missed from the spot, kept Napoli in the hunt before Aboubakar gave the Turkish Super League champions their first victory over Italian rivals in 12 tries.

A 1-1 draw at S.L. Benfica on matchday one came courtesy of a player from the Lisbon club, Anderson Talisca, loaned to Besiktas in August, as he struck a last-gasp equalizer.,

 They were then involved in another 1-1 draw when Dynamo Kyiv pulled level in the 65th minute to cancel out Ricardo Quaresma's free-kick goal in the first half. 

Back in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2009/10, the Turkish Super League champions are hoping to negotiate the group stage hurdle for the first time in six  attempts. In that 2009 campaign they lost all three home fixtures and finished at the bottom of the section. 

They have won one of their last five home games in UEFA competition, and are on a four-game winless home run in the UEFA Champions League proper. Before winning in Naples, Besiktas had drawn two and lost nine of their past 11 meetings with opponents from Serie A.

As for the match facts:

Beşiktaş's star Gökhan İnler played for and captained Napoli between 2011 and 2015, helping the Partenopei to win the Coppa Italia twice and the Italian Super Cup once. İnler played for Udinese Calcio for four seasons before that and on April 17, 2011 scored the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Napoli in Serie A. Ricardo Quaresma scored the second goal in F.C. Porto's 2-2 away draw with Beşiktaş in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 to earn a 3-2 aggregate win. Quaresma was at F.C. Internazionale Milano from 2008 to 2010, making 24 Serie A appearances. Caner Erkin is on loan from Inter after joining the Nerazzurri this summer from Fenerbahçe. Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş was in charge of Turkey for the 1-1 friendly draw with Italy in Pescara on 20 November 2002. Quaresma scored an extra-time winner as Portugal defeated Ivan Strinic's Croatia in the UEFA EURO 2016 Round of 16 in Lens.

Adriano and Caner are each one booking away from a match ban. Beşiktaş are unbeaten in 13 games in regulation time in 2016/17 (W7 D6), though they did lose the Turkish Super Cup 3-0 in penalties to Galatasaray in August. Beşiktaş have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, keeping three clean sheets. The Black Eagles have won 13 of their past 14 home league fixtures. Oğuzhan Özyakup has not played since sustaining an ankle injury against Galatasaray in late September, although he is back in full training. Caner will be out for six months after tearing his left Achilles tendon in a 3-0 defeat of Antalyaspor on October 23. Talisca underwent surgery on Saturday after breaking a metatarsal bone in Friday's game against Gençlerbirliği, having earlier scored in a 1-1 draw. Necip Uysal went off after 14 minutes with a hamstring injury. İnler missed the Antalyaspor match due to an undisclosed injury and was not part of the squad which travelled to Gençlerbirliği.

Napoli ended a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions by winning 2-1 at Crotone on October 23, despite Gabbiadini being sent off after only half an hour.

Europa League : Manchester United beat Fenerbahce 4-1 !

Manchester   United beat Fenerbahce 4-1 in a UEFA Europa League Group A match late Thursday.

The hosts took the lead in the 31st minute when French star Paul Pogba converted a penalty kick.

Manchester United doubled the score three minutes later after another Frenchman, forward Anthony Martial, was successful on another penalty.

A strike by Pogba from 25 meters out in injury time that beat goalkeeper Volkan Demirel put Manchester up by three goals heading to the dressing room at Old Trafford.

Red Devils' English midfielder Jesse Lingard added a fourth goal for good measure as he smashed a shot from outside the penalty box in the second half. 

His two goals helped Pogba to be named player of the match by UEFA.

Meanwhile, other Turkish teams in the Europa League each drew against their opponents.

Atiker Konyaspor played to a 1-1 draw against Portugal's Braga in a Group H match in Konya while Osmanlispor and Spanish team Villarreal ended 2-2 in Group L play in Ankara.

- Group A

Manchester United (England) - Fenerbahce (Turkey): 4-1

Feyenoord (Netherlands) - Zorya (Ukraine): 1-0

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
Feyenoord	3	2	0	1	2	1	1	6
Manchester United	3	2	0	1	5	2	3	6
Fenerbahce	3	1	1	1	3	5	-2	4
Zorya	3	0	1	2	1	3	-2	1

- Group H

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) - Gent (Belgium) : 5-0

Atiker Konyaspor (Turkey) - Braga (Portugal): 1-1

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
Shakhtar Donetsk	3	3	0	0	8	0	8	9
Gent	3	1	1	1	3	6	-3	4
Braga	3	0	2	1	2	4	-2	2
Atiker Konyaspor	3	0	1	2	1	4	-3	1

- Group L

Osmanlispor (Turkey) - Villarreal (Spain): 2-2

Steaua Bucharest (Romania) - Zurich (Switzerland): 1-1

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
Villarreal	3	1	2	0	5	4	1	5
Osmanlispor	3	1	1	1	5	4	1	4
Zurich	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4
Steaua Bucharest	3	0	2	1	2	4	-2	2

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Besiktas beat Napoli in Italy ..First CL win in 7 years !

Senol Gunes feels Besiktas deserved their 3-2 win over Napoli following their courageous display, but says they must remain humble.

Besiktas coach Senol Gunes was quick to stress they cannot afford to get carried away after beating Napoli 3-2 in Wednesday's Champions League encounter.

The Istanbul side now sit second in Group B - trailing Napoli by a point - following Vincent Aboubakar's late winner at Stadio San Paolo, but Gunes made it clear they have achieved nothing yet.

"If we had lost the game, we would have been very upset because our players really fought well," Gunes told reporters.

"However, winning does not mean that we are comfortable in the group now.

"It was an enjoyable game but we could have taken more goalscoring chances.

"We were up against a good team who are leaders of our group. They had some dangerous attacks, we struggled to neutralise their quick players in the first half."

Aboubakar scored the decisive goal four minutes from time to help Besiktas to maximum points having previously put the visitors 2-1 to the good after Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne missed a penalty.

"We did an excellent job. Thanks to all our efforts we were able to get the three points," Aboubakar said.

"I am not the only player who needs to be congratulated - the team deserves the praise. My goals tonight were very important, not just for the team but also from a self-confidence point of view.

"The win has taken us to a key position in the group."

Besiktas beat Napoli in Italy ..First CL win in 7 years !

Senol Gunes feels Besiktas deserved their 3-2 win over Napoli following their courageous display, but says they must remain humble.

Besiktas coach Senol Gunes was quick to stress they cannot afford to get carried away after beating Napoli 3-2 in Wednesday's Champions League encounter.

The Istanbul side now sit second in Group B - trailing Napoli by a point - following Vincent Aboubakar's late winner at Stadio San Paolo, but Gunes made it clear they have achieved nothing yet.

"If we had lost the game, we would have been very upset because our players really fought well," Gunes told reporters.

"However, winning does not mean that we are comfortable in the group now.

"It was an enjoyable game but we could have taken more goalscoring chances.

"We were up against a good team who are leaders of our group. They had some dangerous attacks, we struggled to neutralise their quick players in the first half."

Aboubakar scored the decisive goal four minutes from time to help Besiktas to maximum points having previously put the visitors 2-1 to the good after Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne missed a penalty.

"We did an excellent job. Thanks to all our efforts we were able to get the three points," Aboubakar said.

"I am not the only player who needs to be congratulated - the team deserves the praise. My goals tonight were very important, not just for the team but also from a self-confidence point of view.

"The win has taken us to a key position in the group."

Spain tops Turkey 3-0 !

Alvaro Morata scored twice as defending champion Spain cruised to a 3-0 victory over Turkey on Friday in Nice, France, to qualify for the knockout stages of the European Championship

Morata gave Spain the lead late in the first half, rising between Turkey's centre-backs to superbly direct Nolito's pinpoint cross into Volkan Babacan's top left-hand corner.


The holders doubled their advantage within three minutes, Nolito turning goalscorer this time, taking advantage of a poor Mehmet Topal header to finish from close range.


Morata added his second, and Spain's third, shortly after the restart, finishing off a lovely team goal that also involved Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba, with Turkey unable to create clear chances of their own.

Spain's win ensured their 62-year unbeaten run against Turkey continues, with Vicente del Bosque's team hunting their third successive European Championship title.

Fatih Terim's men, meanwhile, are facing an early exit from Euro 2016 after losing their opening two matches at the finals without scoring a goal.


Morata retained his place up front for Spain and he forced a good save from Babacan after five minutes, spinning into space and firing a 20-yard drive towards the near post.

Spain's goalscorer in the opening 1-0 win against Czech Republic, Gerard Pique, then had a great chance from David Silva's corner but he misjudged his header, the ball bouncing over the crossbar.

Hakan Calhanoglu whipped a free-kick just over David de Gea's crossbar after 26 minutes, before Nolito collected a pass from Iniesta and curled a shot narrowly wide of the post.

The lively Nolito created the opening goal for Spain after 33 minutes, the Celta Vigo winger finding space to curl in an excellent cross that Morata glanced in.

Spain, who have only ever lost once to Turkey, then scored again almost immediately.

Cesc Fabregas clipped a lofted pass over the Turkey defence and Topal could only head the ball up into the air, Nolito reacting sharply to slide the ball beyond a helpless Babacan.

Spain showed no signs of mercy after half-time, becoming the first team at Euro 2016 to score three goals in a game shortly after the interval.

Iniesta bisected the Turkish back line with a superb trademark throughball, with the possibly offside Alba unselfishly squaring for Morata to finish neatly through the legs of Babacan.

Morata then planted a header just wide, as he sought to complete his hat-trick, before Burak Yilmaz spurned a fine chance to get Turkey back into the game, shooting wide from a great position.
Spain continued to press, substitute Bruno Soriano forcing a solid stop from Babacan, who also kept out Pique after 68 minutes.

The frustration of Turkey's fans was clear, as they began to whistle playmaker Arda Turan, who struggled throughout.

Del Bosque's men eased off in the closing stages, but their dominant performance will send a message to the other pre-tournament favourites that they are more than ready to defend their title again as they head for their Group D closer against Croatia in Bordeaux.

Spain became the first team in the competition to score three goals in a game. Its victory left it top of Group D with a maximum six points and through to the next round.

Turkey's second-straight defeat hasn't quite ended its chances of progressing but it will most likely need to win its last game against the Czech Republic to stand a chance.

"Today our national team threw in the towel," Turkey coach Fatih Terim said. "I have never accepted this and I will never accept it ... I'm deeply upset."

Turkey also faces a fine from UEFA after its supporters used flares and a smoke bomb in the stadium, and repeatedly threw firecrackers onto the field after the final whistle.



 

NOT A GOOD START FOR TERIM AND HIS BOYS !

                      EMRE MOR AND TURKEY'S COACH FATIH TERIM


All the build up before this,  Turkish fans believed in Terim and his boys ..

Whole 90 and plus minutes, Turks looked confused on the pitch and on the sideline too!

Passing at the midfield was awful ...

Turkey had their only shot on goal was in 30th minute ...

That was the header by  Ozan Tufan , who should have scored that instead he gave to the keeeper !

Croatia scored from 25 meters by Modric !

Turkish Goalkeeper Volkan Babacan mad a huge mistake as far as timing and following the ball in the atack .


As I mentioned this, on my blog before, Turkey's biggest problem is the defence and in the middle !

Also, whole team is having problem stretching the match to ninty minutes....

Arda Turan has been biggest disappointment along with Burak Yilmaz ...

That's why , Fatih Terim took him out in the second half after he lost the ball one and one !

He is  not ready to hussle and bussle on the pitch....

Here is the problem , with Terim's line up , against  Crotia  !

Too many players has not played full matches in their teams...

Lack of playing time and not being ready was huge risk taking by Fatih Terim....

So, as Terim said after the match Turkey has to start first, to say it's not over ,until we say, it's over !

He said, Turkey always starts the big tournaments like this...

One good thing about in this match, Emre Mor  became the youngest player to play for Turkish National Team  who came in the match in the 69th minute .

I think, Emre Mor is very smart and bright young player who does wonder things with the ball !

Even though he is only 18, he is more energatic and claver most of the players on the team..

He plays with his heart and brain with endless energy ..



Terim is hoping, he could change the outcome of the scores against Spain on Friday ..

I think, he will do some changes in the lineup against Spain..

After Spain, they will face Czech Republic ...

Two important match is waiting for Terim and his boys.

It's not over but, Spain match, coming up on Friday is very important !

All the buildup by Turkish football fedaration could end up with disaster if they don't advance from the group !

Could the comeback kids  , comeback ?

Not the way they played on Sunday against Crotia !


AHMET BOB TURGUT
Turkish Football Blogger

Euro 2016 Preview :Fatih Terim wants to relive 2008 magic again !

 

FATIH TERIM AND AHMET BOB TURGUT

 

This is very historical for Fatih Terim !

It's  his third spell with Turkish National Team

And it's his third time at European Championship tournament ..

Knowing Fatih Terim since 1990's, Fatih Terim is one of the experienced coaches in the tournament!

He has changed a lot since the early days of coaching Turkish National Team.

He is more relax  and calm during the camps...


Someone who followed him in his first National Team camp in Toronto,Canada in 1995, could see him changed a lot since ...

Back then, he was more disciplined with his players in the camp....

He would never allowed his players with transfer deals like he gave permission  to Emre Mor !


Fatih Terim and his assistants could do so much though ......


It's up to the player to play the matches on the pitch.

Turkey is in very difficult group....

Croatia (12 June), Spain (17 June), Czech Republic (21 June )

The first match against Croatia is very important ....

A win will be huge and a draw wont be bad but  a loss will not be good for Fatih Terim and his boys !

The new kid,(wonder-kid) Emre Mor excite me on this team!

Will he start ?

I don't think so, but I know ,Terim will use him ,if things don't go his way !

I think, Emre Mor will energize the Turks on the pitch....

He brings excitement when he goes on the pitch.

Like Fatih Terim said, Emre Mor is special player who will get better...

Looking at the whole team.....

Goalkeeper Volkan Babacan is very formed and good keeper...

Defense, There we have some problem !

Midfield, good players but they are little slow ...

Selcuk Inan  and Arda Turan should play box to box if  Turkey wants to go further !

As far as the offense, we need to use the sides more and Burak Yilmaz has to be in his "A" game ..

He has to score goals !

Fatih Terim, also has "B" plan ....

If  "A" plan does not work , he will use players like Cenk Tosun, Emre Mor, Yusuf  Malli on his B plan !

So, Terim and his boys are ready for Croatia on Sunday...

It's put up and shut up time on Sunday!

The match will be on ESPN in the United States at 9:00 AM,ET ....

AHMET BOB TURGUT
Turkish Football Blogger