Turkey

“Do or Die”

Its “Do or Die” time for the crescent stars. Turkey take on Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in group five’s World cup qualifacation stage. Turkey have to win all four matches and hope Bosnia looses another match after we play them. Some people are hopeful, optimistic, pesmistic, and the list goes on.

Estonia will most probably be playing a with a 10 man wall, this is were we need fast and agile players, quick passing will also help. They have only conceded 8 goals in the last 10 matches. As i explained in my previous post, the TSL (Turkish Super League) has a major impact on the national team. The arrivles of Frank Rijkaard and Cristoph Daum has seen Galatasaray and Fenerbahce (Turkeys two best teams) gain a 4 out of 4 win record in the TSL. We have far less injured players. Last year, Skibbe’s training tactics had Harry Kewel play in Center Back position as Galatasaray took on Hamburg. Aragones the same. If we loose or draw to Estonia then we can say bye to the South African dream.

Bosnia is a team to be feared. They have scored 18 goals in WCQ and only conceded 7 goals. Particulaly Edin Dzeko, he was second in the top scorer sheet as Wolfsburg became champions of the Bundesliga. Im scared that we may draw or loose to them as we lost to Bosnia in the Euro 2008 qualifacation in Sarajevo. We should be prepared to a heated atmosphere but i think that our team could handle the pressure.

Now on to some of our own news?

Nihat – Light injury as usual, i think he took my advice and pretended to be injured so he can make way for Sercan Yildirim.

Tuncay – He recently transferred to Stoke City. Judging his performance last year, i would have thought he would that he would be playing for Liverpool or Chelsea. But Middlesbrough asked for a very high price for him to transfer to Aston Villa.

Hamit Altintop – He is playing very well for Bayern Munih. He helped Bayern to a 3-0 victory over Misimovic and Dzeko’s Wolfsburg. He took a very hard shot and rebounded of the keeper and Robben was there to put in the rebound. He has a light injury so he may only come on as a sub, but he will be fit for the Bosnia match.

Emre – Playing very well for Fenerbahce but his luck ran out after he was sent of and received a 3 match ban against Manisaspor. I hope he does not get a red card in any match.

Here is the squad list.

GOALKEEPERS

1-VOLKAN DEMİREL FENERBAHÇE
2-SİNAN BOLAT STANDARD LIEGE
3-SERKAN KIRINTI IMKE ANKARAGÜCÜ
DEFENDERS

4-GÖKHAN GÖNÜL FENERBAHÇE
5-SABRİ SARIOĞLU GALATASARAY A.Ş.
6-GÖKHAN ZAN GALATASARAY A.Ş.
7-ÖNDER TURACI FENERBAHÇE
8-SERVET ÇETİN GALATASARAY A.Ş.
9-İBRAHİM KAŞ BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş.
10-HAKAN KADİR BALTA GALATASARAY A.Ş.
11-İSMAİL KÖYBAŞI BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş.

MIDFIELDERS

12-HAMİT ALTINTOP FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN
13-KAZIM KAZIM FENERBAHÇE
14-CEYHUN GÜLSELAM TRABZONSPOR A.Ş.
15-MUSTAFA SARP GALATASARAY A.Ş.
16-EMRE BELÖZOĞLU FENERBAHÇE
17-NURİ ŞAHİN BORUSSIA DORTMUND
18-ARDA TURAN GALATASARAY A.Ş.
19-TUNCAY ŞANLI STOKE CITY FC

FORWARDS

20-NİHAT KAHVECİ BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş.
21-SEMİH ŞENTÜRK FENERBAHÇE
22-SERCAN YILDIRIM BURSASPOR

Here is the official lineup –
Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, Gökhan Zan, Servet, Hakan Balta, Kazım, Hamit (Ceyhun Gülselam), Emre, Arda, Tuncay and Sercan Yıldırım

The Estonia match will be start at 9pm local time (UK 7pm)

Good luck!