Turkey gets two-goal win in friendly fixture
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 04, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Only days after a tiring Turkcell Super League campaign coming to an end, the Turkish national football team manages to concentrate on the friendly game against Azerbaijan. Fatih Terim’s boys beat their neighbors 2-0. Turkey will take on France in Lyon tomorrow.
Turkey’s national football team beat Azerbaijan with two second-half goals at Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri on Tuesday. Halil Altıntop, who plays for Germany’s Schalke 04 and Turkish league champion Beşiktaş captain İbrahim Üzülmez scored the goals that gave Turkey a 2-0 victory in the friendly fixture.
The game was the first of two exhibition games that will mark the football season’s end for Turkey, which will play against France in Lyon tomorrow.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim praised his boys, who were just over an exhausting football campaign, as the Turkish League finished last Saturday.
"It is always hard to concentrate on the friendly games after the league ends, but everyone tried to do their best," said Terim. "It was a good game after all. You have to take every game seriously, and my players know that principle very well."
The Turkey boss had to make alterations to his regular squad due to injuries and the forthcoming game against France, but was happy with what he saw.
"All my players performed in harmony, as if they have been playing together for a long time," he explained.
Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts said his team started the game well, but failed to create chances.
"We could not get close to Turkey’s area, and gave away too many chances because we played with the ball too much," said the German. "I congratulate the Turkish team; they welcomed us here in a very friendly way. It was a pleasure to play in a stadium like that."
Terim also praised the Kadir Has Stadium, which staged its first-ever international fixture. Turkey’s World Cup Qualifying Group game against Armenia will be played in that stadium on October 14 as well.
"That is a fabulous stadium with its turf and changing rooms. Back in time, we couldn’t imagine such a great stadium in Anatolia," said Terim. "The Kadir Has Stadium will always be in our minds [when arranging fixtures]."
Kayseri proud
Kayseri Mayor Mehmet Özhaseki said that the city was proud to host an international game.
"This achievement added to Kayseri’s recent successes, as it hosted an international game for the first time in its history," said the mayor in a written statement. "I believe that we managed to finish the event successfully. I thank all our fellow Kayseri locals, who filled the stadium and supported their team in a gentle but ecstatic way," added Özhaseki. "This game helped boost Kayseri’s credit. I hope our city will be a town that hosts international games more frequently."
The Turkish team flied to France yesterday morning but had to leave a group of players in the country due to injuries. Fenerbahçe players Gökhan Gönül and Emre Belözoğlu alongside Villarreal striker Nihat Kahveci and Trabzonspor defender Ceyhun Gülselam were withdrawn from the Turkish squad due injuries picked up in the Azerbaijan game.
The game was the first of two exhibition games that will mark the football season’s end for Turkey, which will play against France in Lyon tomorrow.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim praised his boys, who were just over an exhausting football campaign, as the Turkish League finished last Saturday.
"It is always hard to concentrate on the friendly games after the league ends, but everyone tried to do their best," said Terim. "It was a good game after all. You have to take every game seriously, and my players know that principle very well."
The Turkey boss had to make alterations to his regular squad due to injuries and the forthcoming game against France, but was happy with what he saw.
"All my players performed in harmony, as if they have been playing together for a long time," he explained.
Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts said his team started the game well, but failed to create chances.
"We could not get close to Turkey’s area, and gave away too many chances because we played with the ball too much," said the German. "I congratulate the Turkish team; they welcomed us here in a very friendly way. It was a pleasure to play in a stadium like that."
Terim also praised the Kadir Has Stadium, which staged its first-ever international fixture. Turkey’s World Cup Qualifying Group game against Armenia will be played in that stadium on October 14 as well.
"That is a fabulous stadium with its turf and changing rooms. Back in time, we couldn’t imagine such a great stadium in Anatolia," said Terim. "The Kadir Has Stadium will always be in our minds [when arranging fixtures]."
Kayseri proud
Kayseri Mayor Mehmet Özhaseki said that the city was proud to host an international game.
"This achievement added to Kayseri’s recent successes, as it hosted an international game for the first time in its history," said the mayor in a written statement. "I believe that we managed to finish the event successfully. I thank all our fellow Kayseri locals, who filled the stadium and supported their team in a gentle but ecstatic way," added Özhaseki. "This game helped boost Kayseri’s credit. I hope our city will be a town that hosts international games more frequently."
The Turkish team flied to France yesterday morning but had to leave a group of players in the country due to injuries. Fenerbahçe players Gökhan Gönül and Emre Belözoğlu alongside Villarreal striker Nihat Kahveci and Trabzonspor defender Ceyhun Gülselam were withdrawn from the Turkish squad due injuries picked up in the Azerbaijan game.