We are up for the battle, Turkey star says
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 27, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkey can really cause troubles for European champion Spain, Nihat Kahveci says. Speaking in an interview with Senna and Capdevila, his teammates at Villarreal, Turkish striker has a few laughs but finds time to warn his mates that it will be a tough battle
They may be teammates at Villarreal, but for a week, Spain’s Joan Capdevila and Marcos Senna will be fierce rivals against Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci.
Nihat plays in La Liga side Villarreal alongside Capdevila and Senna, and says he is ready for the challenge when Turkey will play against Spain twice in the next five days for the World Cup Qualifying Group 5.
"Spain is the favorite to win the group to qualify directly, but favorites don’t always win," Nihat told the Spanish sports daily Marca in an interview when the trio talked about the games. "Turkey will not give up as long as it has a chance to catch Spain."
Spain’s combative midfielder Senna asked Nihat if the rivalry would get dirty on the pitch, and in which language the Turk would swear at them.
"Swearing? No," replied Nihat, laughing. "Oh but, maybe yes. It will be in Turkish, as long as I am wearing the Turkish jersey."
Nihat said he knew coach Fatih Terim’s secret plan.
"Ask me where will we attack," said Nihat. "Will you attack from my wing?" said left back Capdevila. "It is the weakest part of Spain."
Nihat said the challenge may get tough on the pitch, but it will stay there.
"We will elbow each other in the game, but it will stay on the pitch," said Nihat. "If we lose, I know what awaits me at Villarreal, but if we win, you are so dead!" Capdevila responded, "You can start hiding right now because you will lose anyway."
On a more serious note, Nihat asked Capdevila what Spain thought about the Turkey game.
"We respect you a lot, because you played in the semifinal of the European Championship, and you were third in the World Cup in 2002," said Capdevila. "But with all respect, we want to win the group in the shortest time. But those two games will be our most difficult."
When Senna asked which players Spain should look out for, Nihat said Turkey had a lot of weapons.
"I hope you know about us. If you don’t you’ll have trouble," said the attacker. "Seriously, we have a lot of good players: We have Tuncay Şanlı, Emre Belözoğlu, Uğur Boral, Semih Şentürk, Mehmet Aurelio; whoever plays will give his everything."
"Don’t think that we will defend a lot at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium," Nihat said. "We go there to play good ball, score goals and beat Spain. Watch out, we are dangerous."
Nihat plays in La Liga side Villarreal alongside Capdevila and Senna, and says he is ready for the challenge when Turkey will play against Spain twice in the next five days for the World Cup Qualifying Group 5.
"Spain is the favorite to win the group to qualify directly, but favorites don’t always win," Nihat told the Spanish sports daily Marca in an interview when the trio talked about the games. "Turkey will not give up as long as it has a chance to catch Spain."
Spain’s combative midfielder Senna asked Nihat if the rivalry would get dirty on the pitch, and in which language the Turk would swear at them.
"Swearing? No," replied Nihat, laughing. "Oh but, maybe yes. It will be in Turkish, as long as I am wearing the Turkish jersey."
Nihat said he knew coach Fatih Terim’s secret plan.
"Ask me where will we attack," said Nihat. "Will you attack from my wing?" said left back Capdevila. "It is the weakest part of Spain."
Nihat said the challenge may get tough on the pitch, but it will stay there.
"We will elbow each other in the game, but it will stay on the pitch," said Nihat. "If we lose, I know what awaits me at Villarreal, but if we win, you are so dead!" Capdevila responded, "You can start hiding right now because you will lose anyway."
On a more serious note, Nihat asked Capdevila what Spain thought about the Turkey game.
"We respect you a lot, because you played in the semifinal of the European Championship, and you were third in the World Cup in 2002," said Capdevila. "But with all respect, we want to win the group in the shortest time. But those two games will be our most difficult."
When Senna asked which players Spain should look out for, Nihat said Turkey had a lot of weapons.
"I hope you know about us. If you don’t you’ll have trouble," said the attacker. "Seriously, we have a lot of good players: We have Tuncay Şanlı, Emre Belözoğlu, Uğur Boral, Semih Şentürk, Mehmet Aurelio; whoever plays will give his everything."
"Don’t think that we will defend a lot at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium," Nihat said. "We go there to play good ball, score goals and beat Spain. Watch out, we are dangerous."