Euro Profile
Turkey to make bigger impression

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 1: Turkey were handed a harsh lesson in the European Championship four years ago when they were swiftly eliminated after losing their three first round matches at Euro 96 without scoring a goal. They are now set for their second successive appearance in the finals with a more balanced, experienced team-and one capable of making life tough for Europe’s top sides.

They proved that with a 1-0 home win and a 0-0 away draw with reigning champions Germany in the qualifiers—even if they then made life hard for themselves by qualifying only by virtue of an away goals rule playoff victory over the Republic of Ireland. For coach Mustafa Denizli, serving his second stint as national coach, the results of the two matches against Germany affirmed the new potency of soccer in the overwhelmingly Moslem country of some 65 million people.

Qualification was sweet for a country devastated buy a pair of massive earthquakes, which killed at least 18,000 people.

And as a perennial outcast from political Europe, to earn a place among the elite of the continent’s football was doubly satisfying.

Despite their rocky away record, Turkey are clearly a strong side, it should be remembered that thousands of expatriate Turks live and work in Western Europe. Some German players complained that Turks outnumbered home fans for the Berlin clash between the two countries.

The squad for the 2000 tournament is likely to built around the same players, now in their late 20s and further seasoned by four years to European competition with Turkish sides such as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Hakan Sukur, the tall centre forward, will lead the attack. Behind him Sergen Yalcin will hope to reproduce the sparkling linking role that propelled the Turkish attack through the qualifiers. In defence Alpay Ozalan, once a talented but petulant defender, now appears a talented and levelheaded stalwart who can run with the ball. Alongside him, Ogun Temizkanoglu has a knack of providing the long passes out of defence to unleash Yalcin and Sukur.

Probable Squad: Goalkeepers-Rustu Recber, Engin Ipekoglu.

Defenders-Ali Eren Beserler, Ogun Temizkanoglu, Fehmi Alpay Ozalan, Fatih Akyel, Mert Kor\kmaz, Saffet Akbas, Hakan Unsal.

Midfielders-Tayfur Havutcu, Abdullah Ercan, Okan Buruk, Ali Riza Sergen Yalcin, Tayfun Korkut, Umit Davala, Tugay Kerimoglu, Ergun Penbe.

Forwads-Arif Erdem, Hakan Sukur, Saffet Akytiz, Oktay Derelioglu, Ayhan Akman, Umit Karan.

Other Stories

• Robin’s Golden Jubilee Golf