Terim’s wonder boys vs mighty matadors
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 28, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Hoping to earn a place in next summer's World Cup, Turkey is playing the first of the two most difficult games of the year when it takes on Spain on Saturday. With its two-year unbeaten run and the European champion crown, Spain is powerful, but not intimidating, says Fatih Terim
Any team that faces Spain, officially the world’s best football country at the moment, would be intimidated, but not Turkey, according to coach Fatih Terim. And he has a reason.
Coach Terim knows his boys won’t have an easy job when they play against the defending European champion in Madrid. The Spaniards have been atop the FIFA rankings since they won the European title last summer and are on an unbeaten run that dates back more than two years.
But Terim has reasons to believe Turkey can pull out a result that can upset the mighty matadors.
First of all, yes, Spain was the champion of the Euro 2008, but Turkey’s heroics were the only thing in that tournament that could be seen on the same wavelength with the winner. Winning three games with last-minute goals, Turkey was the drama king of the cup. Before going to the semifinals Turks beat Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia respectively, in games whose last minutes had the same thrilling effect as a ride on a roller coaster.
Turkey played its first ever semifinal in the cup and another drama-filled match was staged against Germany, but this time it was on the other end. Despite putting on its best performance in the tournament, it could not overcome the know-how of the cold-blooded German team and ended up with a 3-2 loss Ğ making a heartbreaking yet heads-high ending to a greatly played tournament.
Picking up where they left off
Now, when Fatih Terim talks about "picking up where they left off," one can see what he is speaking of. Despite losing, Turkey won the praises and arguably made a stronger mark than Germany, who lost 1-0 to Spain in the final. With a brave performance that managed to work miracles several times, Turkey is usually remembered as a team worth watching by the game's connoisseurs all around the world. After nine months, Turkey takes it to the high-profile stage, and will try to make waves again.
That is why Terim said his players were aware of what could happen if they beat the odds and got a shocking win.
"Nobody would be angry if we lost at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday," said Terim earlier this week when speaking to the Turkish channel NTV.
"But if we win, that is something. My players should be after making a sensational story, reminding the world about them again," he said.
That kind of speech is not a surprise for those who have closely watched him since the 1990s, when he worked with the Turkish national team and Galatasaray.
Before a Champions League game against Italian heavyweight Juventus in 1998, Terim made history with his quote, "It is easy to be beaten, but we go to Italy to make the top story on CNN."
The game ended in a 2-2 draw eventually, an unbelievable score for the level of Turkish football level at the time. That day, Terim’s motivational speech failed to bring the win and push the Lions onto CNN’s agenda, but with his tactical competence, Galatasaray went on to win the UEFA Cup in 2000.
It was not until last summer that Terim could match his career highlight. Driving Turkey to the Euro 2008 semifinal and winning fans for his team all over the world earned a well-deserved name for Terim, and a positive result on Saturday would only add to his reputation. But it will be a seriously tough job.
Turkey, which is unbeaten with two victories in group play, is up against a team that has not lost since November 2006 and tops the FIFA rankings.
"Spain is the best. FIFA says it and their play says it," Terim said.
"We all know that winning at the Bernabeu would double the prize. We like [playing] in hostile surroundings," Terim said. "The truth is that every time I see Spain play I enjoy it, I identify with it. It's the greatest spectacle possible."
As usual, Turkey went to Spain with an injury-depleted squad. Defenders Servet Çetin and Gökhan Zan are out with injuries, and so is defensive midfielder Mehmet Topal and Bayern Munich’s versatile player, Hamit Altıntop.
The rest of the outfield players may not look as bright as Spain’s star-studded line up that boasts Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Sergio Ramos or Iker Casillas to name just a few. Expecting Turkey to beat such a world-class team in Madrid may not the wisest thing to do, but one just can never say never when it is about Fatih Terim’s boys, who are keen on creating miracles.
Turkey coach counts on his hardworking midfielders
Although Turkey is shorthanded with injuries, there are fewer questions about the midfield, the area that Terim sees as his team’s most powerful weapon. Mehmet Aurelio, a player for Spain’s Real Betis, will definitely play defensive midfielder, probably to team up with Emre Belözoğlu and Ayhan Akman, who can play on both ends of the field. Middlesbrough’s Tuncay Şanlı and Galatasaray starlet Arda Turan are the first names that come to mind to play wingers.
Nihat Kahveci is expected to play as a lone striker.
Coach Terim knows his boys won’t have an easy job when they play against the defending European champion in Madrid. The Spaniards have been atop the FIFA rankings since they won the European title last summer and are on an unbeaten run that dates back more than two years.
But Terim has reasons to believe Turkey can pull out a result that can upset the mighty matadors.
First of all, yes, Spain was the champion of the Euro 2008, but Turkey’s heroics were the only thing in that tournament that could be seen on the same wavelength with the winner. Winning three games with last-minute goals, Turkey was the drama king of the cup. Before going to the semifinals Turks beat Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia respectively, in games whose last minutes had the same thrilling effect as a ride on a roller coaster.
Turkey played its first ever semifinal in the cup and another drama-filled match was staged against Germany, but this time it was on the other end. Despite putting on its best performance in the tournament, it could not overcome the know-how of the cold-blooded German team and ended up with a 3-2 loss Ğ making a heartbreaking yet heads-high ending to a greatly played tournament.
Picking up where they left off
Now, when Fatih Terim talks about "picking up where they left off," one can see what he is speaking of. Despite losing, Turkey won the praises and arguably made a stronger mark than Germany, who lost 1-0 to Spain in the final. With a brave performance that managed to work miracles several times, Turkey is usually remembered as a team worth watching by the game's connoisseurs all around the world. After nine months, Turkey takes it to the high-profile stage, and will try to make waves again.
That is why Terim said his players were aware of what could happen if they beat the odds and got a shocking win.
"Nobody would be angry if we lost at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday," said Terim earlier this week when speaking to the Turkish channel NTV.
"But if we win, that is something. My players should be after making a sensational story, reminding the world about them again," he said.
That kind of speech is not a surprise for those who have closely watched him since the 1990s, when he worked with the Turkish national team and Galatasaray.
Before a Champions League game against Italian heavyweight Juventus in 1998, Terim made history with his quote, "It is easy to be beaten, but we go to Italy to make the top story on CNN."
The game ended in a 2-2 draw eventually, an unbelievable score for the level of Turkish football level at the time. That day, Terim’s motivational speech failed to bring the win and push the Lions onto CNN’s agenda, but with his tactical competence, Galatasaray went on to win the UEFA Cup in 2000.
It was not until last summer that Terim could match his career highlight. Driving Turkey to the Euro 2008 semifinal and winning fans for his team all over the world earned a well-deserved name for Terim, and a positive result on Saturday would only add to his reputation. But it will be a seriously tough job.
Turkey, which is unbeaten with two victories in group play, is up against a team that has not lost since November 2006 and tops the FIFA rankings.
"Spain is the best. FIFA says it and their play says it," Terim said.
"We all know that winning at the Bernabeu would double the prize. We like [playing] in hostile surroundings," Terim said. "The truth is that every time I see Spain play I enjoy it, I identify with it. It's the greatest spectacle possible."
As usual, Turkey went to Spain with an injury-depleted squad. Defenders Servet Çetin and Gökhan Zan are out with injuries, and so is defensive midfielder Mehmet Topal and Bayern Munich’s versatile player, Hamit Altıntop.
The rest of the outfield players may not look as bright as Spain’s star-studded line up that boasts Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Sergio Ramos or Iker Casillas to name just a few. Expecting Turkey to beat such a world-class team in Madrid may not the wisest thing to do, but one just can never say never when it is about Fatih Terim’s boys, who are keen on creating miracles.
Turkey coach counts on his hardworking midfielders
Although Turkey is shorthanded with injuries, there are fewer questions about the midfield, the area that Terim sees as his team’s most powerful weapon. Mehmet Aurelio, a player for Spain’s Real Betis, will definitely play defensive midfielder, probably to team up with Emre Belözoğlu and Ayhan Akman, who can play on both ends of the field. Middlesbrough’s Tuncay Şanlı and Galatasaray starlet Arda Turan are the first names that come to mind to play wingers.
Nihat Kahveci is expected to play as a lone striker.