TURKEY: TURKISH WORLD CUP SQUAD FINISH THEIR TRAINING AND PREPARE TO TRAVEL TO WORLD CUP FINALS

Record ID: 921488

  • Title: TURKEY: TURKISH WORLD CUP SQUAD FINISH THEIR TRAINING AND PREPARE TO TRAVEL TO WORLD CUP FINALS
  • Date: 4th February 2015
  • Summary: ANTALYA, TURKEY (MAY 15, 2002) (REUTERS) PLAYERS MOVING GOAL POSTS MID SHOT PLAYERS PLAYER BEING MASSAGED VARIOUS OF PLAYERS IN STRETCHING EXERCISES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) DEFENDER FATIH AKYEL SAYS: "We had a good period of training, I hope we will have a good training as well in Korea, we have two preparation games to play
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 21:09
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ANTALYA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAE444EKSW9ZEM4BCCKO9AMB3KC
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The Turkish national soccer team have finished their
    training at home before flying to Hong Kong in the last stage
    of the preparation ahead of their first World Cup appearance
    in 42 years.



    Turkey top player Hakan Sukur was back in action as
    Turkey completed their training programme at the Mediterranean
    resort Antalya on Wednesday (May 15).

    The country's top striker, who has been sidelined by
    injury, was able to take part in light training again while
    teammates Arif Erdem, Abdullah Ercam and Okan Buruk were all
    rested.

    Turkey face Brazil, Costa Rica and China in Group C and
    there is optimism in the camp that they will do well after
    making it to the World Cup finals for the first time since
    1958.

    "We had a good period of training, I hope we will have a
    good training as well in Korea, we have two preparation games
    to play. We will be ready after
    that for the World Cup," said defender Faith Akyel.

    Teammate Hasan Sas was confident they will do well in
    their first match against the four-times champions Brazil, on
    June 3.

    "We of course think how we will get through the group,
    the first game is against Brazil and we hope to get at least
    one point."
    Sukur is Turkey biggest top scorer ever with 36 goals in
    72 matches. The 30 year-old Parma striker joined the group on
    Monday (May 13) as Turkey gradually assembled their World Cup
    squad from around Europe.

    "Since the last week, I was injured. I came here to
    train. It is going to be good for me to train with my friends
    so that I can have a good performance."
    Sukur is assured of his starting place but manager Senol
    Gunes have still to decide between Ilhan Mansiz or Arif Erdem
    to partner him in attack.

    The Turkish coach has no major worries and was hopeful
    that Turkey can finish in the top half of the group and move
    on to the knockout stage of the tournament.

    "We do not have any injuries that can put an obstacle to
    our work. We had some weariness due to the tempo. but we
    almost finished the camp, we will have our last training
    tonight and have time to go over quickly but we will go over
    the main points in Hong Kong." he said.

    Gunes has so far named 28 players for his preliminary
    squad before selecting the final 23 for the World Cup.


    Turkey 28-man preliminary announced May 6.

    Goalkeepers: Rustu Recber (Fenerbahce), Omer Catkic
    (Gaziantepspor), Zafer Ozgultekin (Ankaragucu), Metin Aktas
    (Trabzonspor)
    Defenders: Bulent Korkmaz (Galatasaray), Emre Asik
    (Galatasaray), Fatih Akyel (Fenerbahce), Umit Ozat
    (Fenerbahce), Ismail Gulduren (Genclerbirligi), Alpay Ozalan
    (Aston Villa)
    Midfielders: Ergun Penbe (Galatasaray), Abdullah Ercan
    (Fenerbahce), Tayfur Havutcu (Besiktas), Cihan Haspolat
    (Kocaelispor), Tugay Kerimoglu (Blackburn Rovers), Hakan Unsal
    (Blackburn Rovers), Emre Belozoglu (Inter Milan), Okan Buruk
    (Inter Milan), Umit Davala (AC Milan), Tayfun Korkut (Real
    Sociedad), Yildiray Basturk (Bayer Leverkusen), Muzzy Izzet
    (Leicester City)
    Forwards: Hakan Sukur (Parma), Arif Erdem (Galatasaray),
    Hasan Sas (Galatasaray), Serhat Akin (Fenerbahce), Ilhan
    Mansiz (Besiktas), Nihat Kahveci (Real Sociedad)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register