Defender: Turkey still have chance to advance, Latest Football News - The New Paper
Football

Defender: Turkey still have chance to advance

GROUP D

CZECH REPUBLIC v TURKEY

(Tomorrow, 2.50am, Singtel TV Ch 141 & StarHub TV Ch 221 - Eleven Sports EURO)

Turkey have left it late to bid for a place in the knockout stage of Euro 2016 but defender Gokhan Gonul believes they still have a chance, if they can beat a buoyant Czech side in their final Group D game tomorrow morning (Singapore time).

"There is a thing the Turkish national team always does, which is chasing the game until the last minute," the 31-year-old defender said.

"Again we have left it until the last game, maybe we don't have much of a chance this time, but we will still do our very best and, hopefully, with the help of some luck, we can defeat the Czech Republic and go through."

The Czechs, though, are full of confidence after fighting back from two goals down to draw with Croatia last Friday.

Turkey, by contrast, were lacking in bite when they lost 1-0 to Croatia in their opening game before being given a lesson in a 3-0 drubbing by reigning European champions Spain.

Aside from scoring their first goal of the tournament in Lens, Turkey would need other results to go their way even if they do win, while victory for the Czechs would put them on four points and in a good position to make the last 16.

Spain, who have already qualified for the knockout stages with two wins in their first two games, face a Croatia side looking for the win that would guarantee them top place in the group.

The Czech Republic and Turkey claimed away victories against one another in a topsy-turvy qualifying group that the Czechs won, with Iceland coming second and the Turks qualifying directly as the best third-placed team, while a much-fancied Holland side missed out altogether.

"Turkey are a very strong side, they have a lot of good players who play for top teams," said Czech forward Tomas Necid.

"As a team, they have good link-up play and plenty of flair."

The Czechs will be missing their flair player, Tomas Rosicky, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury sustained in their remarkable comeback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Croatia.

The Czechs have two players - Tomas Sivok and David Limbersky - who risk suspension for the knockout stages if they get another yellow card, while the Turks have five - Burak Yilmaz, Cenk Tosun, Hakan Balta, Ozan Tufan and Volkan Sen - who will need to stay on the right side of Scottish referee William Collum. 
- Reuters.


“There is a thing the Turkish national team always do, which is chasing the game until the last minute.”

— Turkey defender Gokhan Gonul

FootballEuro 2016TurkeyeuropeGROUP D