- Title: NETHERLANDS: TURKEY PREPARE FOR EURO 2000 QUARTER-FINAL AGAINST PORTUGAL.
- Date: 22nd June 2000
- Summary: AMSTERDAM ARENA, NETHERLANDS (JUNE 23, 2000) 1. TURKEY TEAM TRAINING 2. (soundbite) (turkish) TURKISH COACH MUSTAFA DENIZLI SPEAKING: "All the other great teams who tried to beat Portugal did not succeed. We've made an analysis of the Portuguese team beforehand because we knew they will succeed. We will focus on our own strategy and tactics. Portual is known by the authorities as the best team in the tournament. We also know their strenghts and qualities ZAANDAM NETHERLANDS (JUNE 22, 2000) 3. TEAM AT MOSQUE. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 7th July 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- Country: Netherlands
- Reuters ID: LVA5X158Y5IIOKWREN3LSWD8Q122
- Story Text: Turkish coach Mustafa Denizli cast his team as clear
underdogs against quarter-final rivals Portugal on Friday but
said another upset was on the cards.
On Saturday we play the best team in the tournament.
It will be a difficult game, he said. "They are the
favourites but we will win."
Portugal romped through the group stage with some marvellous
soccer that brought them three wins, including a 3-2 comeback
victory over England and a 3-0 defeat of outgoing champions
germany despite playing with a second-string side.
Turkey arrived in the netherlands having never won a point or
scored a goal before in the finals.
But after losing 2-1 to Italy through a controversial penalty
decision, they drew 0-0 with Sweden and beat co-hosts Belgium
2-0 to reach the last eight.
Denizli told a news conference at the Amsterdam Arena that
Turkey were preparing for the match in their own way.
"We have some small problems but this will not cause any big
trouble," he said.
Turkey's big striker aken Sukur who scored both goals against
Belgium, has been at the centre of some injury scare
speculation recently.
Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper quoted him on Friday as
saying he hoped to be ready in time for Saturday's game but
would play only if he felt fully fit.
Denizli's words calmed those fears while Hakan Sukur himself
appeared relaxed in the team hotel.
FAITH, NOT FEAR
"Hakan is one of the most important players in our team and he
is also very well known to the foreign press but our team is
not built just on him," said Denizli.
The coach said Turkey had already performed an extraordinary
feat in reaching the last eight and the atmosphere around the
team certainly appeared easier than it had been during the
group stage.
"We come with faith, not fear," Denizli said of the mood in
the Turkish camp before the game.
Players sauntered out of the team hotel before leaving to
inspect the stadium and signed autographs for a few waiting
fans while Denizli was happy to stop and chat briefly in the
corridor.
That contrasted with the siege atmosphere at their early base
in Delden, in the east of the Netherlands, where players were
isolated from press and public.
Denizli had been singled out by fans after the defeat to
Italy, with chants for him to go, and had in turn criticised
the media and supporters for heaping abuse on the team rather
than getting behind it.
But he appeared far more relaxed on Friday, smiling
benevolently and thanking reporters for their presence.
The players were kept away from Friday's news conference, with
Denizli appearing alone an hour before Turkey had originally
announced it would be held, and a later training session was
declared closed.
After the coach had walked out of the room, frustrated
television reporters occupied themselves by interviewing the
Turkish reporters about their team.
"I think Turkey will win tomorrow," declared one. "It will be
no surprise. They have nothing to lose and I know how they can
play when they are relaxed."
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