It will be different this time, says Turkey boss
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 01, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL- Turkey takes on Spain again in the World Cup Qualifying Group 5 game tonight. Fatih Terim's boys were beaten by a single goal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, but the coach is encouraged by his team's performance and says things will be better in Istanbul.
Five days after the defeat in Spain, Turkey takes on the European champion again tonight, and coach Fatih Terim insists things will be different this time.
Spain squeaked past the Turks 1-0 last Saturday in the World Cup 2010 qualifying Group 5 game with a goal from defender Gerard Pique but the Turks gave their hosts a tough time of it before succumbing.
Spain leads the group with a perfect record of fifteen points in five games, while Turkey slipped to the third spot following Bosnia-Herzegovina’s win over Belgium.
Those results turned mean tonight’s Spain fixture is a must-win for Turkey, and Terim said his team would fight for what it wanted until the very end.
"You will see a team that will fight to get the result it wants," said Terim at a press conference yesterday. "We will concentrate on winning, and I fully trust my players."
Terim used his usual motivational rhetoric in the press conference.
"I will have 11 brave hearts on the pitch, and if it becomes 23,000 brave hearts with the fans, that will be all the more efficient," he said. "That’s how we can win." The coach added that being the home team was important in this game.
"Patience and excitement are crucial parts of football," he said. "My friends in the stands should provide the excitement to my friends on the pitch."
"It is important that the players on the pitch and off the pitch create a synergy," he said. "So, our match squad will consist of 80 million players in the game."
Some columnists suggested that the game should be played on a low quality turf, as a precaution to stop Spain’s fast-paced passing traffic, but Terim said he never regretted the decision to play at Galatasaray’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
’We will welcome Spain with hospitality’
"Spain hosted us in the most beautiful facilities of the world and we will welcome them in the most beautiful way, as being hospitable is a part of our character," he said. "We are over the thoughts like forcing them to play on a bad turf or a cold climate."
Spain’s tireless right back Sergio Ramos was the man of the match Saturday, while Turkey’s Arda Turan, who played on the same wing, put off a disappointing performance. Terim said that he believed in the Galatasaray starlet.
"Ramos may be the winner of the first clash, but I count on Arda here," said the coach. "I believe we will watch Arda instead of Ramos in the game." Arda said that he would try to contribute to the team more this time.
"At the Ali Sami Yen, Arda will contribute to his team more, especially on attack," the player said, referring himself in the third person. "I hope everything turns out how we want it to be. We want to play with a more attacking mentality and win."
Despite being seen as the future of Turkish football, the winger said that he saw himself as a team player.
"I am not a star, I am just a team player," he explained. "I try to give my best every time with my mates."
Striker Nihat Kahveci, who plays for Spanish La Liga team Villarreal, says that Turkey can finish Spain’s unbelievable 30-game unbeaten streak. "Beating Spain is not a dream," said Nihat. "Every team is beaten some time, and I hope that time is today." Meanwhile, Spanish star Fernando Torres warned his team to beware of a Turkish backlash in the return fixture.
With Bosnia-Herzegovina managing a surprise win in Belgium to go provisionally second in the group, Turkey, a point further back in third, now have to make up lost ground.
Spain leads the group but Torres says this is no time for complacency.
"We must be humble in taking on any rival and all the more so with Turkey as they have a great team," said the Liverpool striker. "They made things tough for us last Saturday and they will do all the more so on Wednesday," he predicted.
Bosnians lucky for second spot
Turkey was expected to be in the race for runner-up position in Group 5 with Belgium, but Bosnia-Herzegovina beat all odds and proved to be a serious contender.
Beating Belgium 4-2 on Saturday, Bosnia-Herzegovina rose to second spot with nine points, one point ahead of Turkey. Belgium is fourth with seven points.
If Bosnia beats Belgium again and Turkey fails to get a point against Spain today, Fatih Terim’s side will be four points behind the Bosnians with four games to go.
Spain squeaked past the Turks 1-0 last Saturday in the World Cup 2010 qualifying Group 5 game with a goal from defender Gerard Pique but the Turks gave their hosts a tough time of it before succumbing.
Spain leads the group with a perfect record of fifteen points in five games, while Turkey slipped to the third spot following Bosnia-Herzegovina’s win over Belgium.
Those results turned mean tonight’s Spain fixture is a must-win for Turkey, and Terim said his team would fight for what it wanted until the very end.
"You will see a team that will fight to get the result it wants," said Terim at a press conference yesterday. "We will concentrate on winning, and I fully trust my players."
Terim used his usual motivational rhetoric in the press conference.
"I will have 11 brave hearts on the pitch, and if it becomes 23,000 brave hearts with the fans, that will be all the more efficient," he said. "That’s how we can win." The coach added that being the home team was important in this game.
"Patience and excitement are crucial parts of football," he said. "My friends in the stands should provide the excitement to my friends on the pitch."
"It is important that the players on the pitch and off the pitch create a synergy," he said. "So, our match squad will consist of 80 million players in the game."
Some columnists suggested that the game should be played on a low quality turf, as a precaution to stop Spain’s fast-paced passing traffic, but Terim said he never regretted the decision to play at Galatasaray’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
’We will welcome Spain with hospitality’
"Spain hosted us in the most beautiful facilities of the world and we will welcome them in the most beautiful way, as being hospitable is a part of our character," he said. "We are over the thoughts like forcing them to play on a bad turf or a cold climate."
Spain’s tireless right back Sergio Ramos was the man of the match Saturday, while Turkey’s Arda Turan, who played on the same wing, put off a disappointing performance. Terim said that he believed in the Galatasaray starlet.
"Ramos may be the winner of the first clash, but I count on Arda here," said the coach. "I believe we will watch Arda instead of Ramos in the game." Arda said that he would try to contribute to the team more this time.
"At the Ali Sami Yen, Arda will contribute to his team more, especially on attack," the player said, referring himself in the third person. "I hope everything turns out how we want it to be. We want to play with a more attacking mentality and win."
Despite being seen as the future of Turkish football, the winger said that he saw himself as a team player.
"I am not a star, I am just a team player," he explained. "I try to give my best every time with my mates."
Striker Nihat Kahveci, who plays for Spanish La Liga team Villarreal, says that Turkey can finish Spain’s unbelievable 30-game unbeaten streak. "Beating Spain is not a dream," said Nihat. "Every team is beaten some time, and I hope that time is today." Meanwhile, Spanish star Fernando Torres warned his team to beware of a Turkish backlash in the return fixture.
With Bosnia-Herzegovina managing a surprise win in Belgium to go provisionally second in the group, Turkey, a point further back in third, now have to make up lost ground.
Spain leads the group but Torres says this is no time for complacency.
"We must be humble in taking on any rival and all the more so with Turkey as they have a great team," said the Liverpool striker. "They made things tough for us last Saturday and they will do all the more so on Wednesday," he predicted.
Bosnians lucky for second spot
Turkey was expected to be in the race for runner-up position in Group 5 with Belgium, but Bosnia-Herzegovina beat all odds and proved to be a serious contender.
Beating Belgium 4-2 on Saturday, Bosnia-Herzegovina rose to second spot with nine points, one point ahead of Turkey. Belgium is fourth with seven points.
If Bosnia beats Belgium again and Turkey fails to get a point against Spain today, Fatih Terim’s side will be four points behind the Bosnians with four games to go.