Team: TURKEY

[Trim]

Turkey boss Fatih Terim has called up Emre Gungor to his preliminary Euro 2008 squad as a replacement for the injured Servet Cetin...

Terim has named a 27-man squad that have joined a training camp along the Mediterranean coast to prepare for friendlies against Slovakia, Uruguay and Finland before the European Championships this summer in Austria and Switzerland.

The boss will trim four players from the squad down to 23 before the finals, as they look to compete in a group with Portugal, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Gokhan Gonul of Fenerbahce has a foot injury, as does Bayern Munich's Hamit Altintop, but they have both made the provisional squad. 37-year-old national hero Hakan Sukur, though, could not make the list.

Provisional Turkey squad for Euro 2008:

Goalkeepers: Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce), Rustu Recber (Besiktas), Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor).

Defenders: Gokhan Zan (Besiktas), Ibrahim Kas (Besiktas), Sabri Sarioglu (Galatasaray), Emre Asik (Ankaraspor), Servet Cetin (Galatasaray), Emre Gungor (Galatasaray), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray), Ugur Boral, Gokhan Gonul (Fenerbahce).

Midfielders: Mehmet Aurelio (Fenerbahce), Kazim Kazim (Fenerbahce), Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Ayhan Akman (Galatasaray), Emre Belozoglu (Newcastle, England), Tumer Metin (Larissa, Greece), Yildiray Basturk (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich, Germany), Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough, England), Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan, Russia).

Forwards: Nihat Kahveci (Villarreal, Spain), Halil Altintop (Schalke, Germany), Semih Senturk (Fenerbahce), Mevlut Erdinc (Sochaux, France).

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Turkey Call Up Gungor, Leave Out Sukur

[Trim]

Turkey
1 Rüştü Reçber
2 Servet Çetin
3 Hakan Balta
4 Gökhan Zan
5 Emre Belözoğlu
6 Mehmet Topal
7 Mehmet Aurélio
8 Nihat Kahveci
9 Semih Şentürk
10 Gökdeniz Karadeniz
11 Tümer Metin
12 Tolga Zengin
13 Emre Güngör
14 Arda Turan
15 Emre Aşık
16 Uğur Boral
17 Tuncay Şanlı
18 Kazım Kazım
19 Ayhan Akman
20 Sabri Sarıoğlu
21 Mevlüt Erdinç
22 Hamit Altıntop
23 Volkan Demirel
Coach: Fatih Terim

euro2008.uefa.com - Final squads announced for EURO

[BlackNess]

Shocking news for Bastürk, he will not be one of the 23 players of Turkey in the Euro Finals .

I see no reason for leaving him at home, I has been good this season, he scored against us, I don't see someone better than him in Turkeys Midfield ... Maybe Hamit .

After Bastürk, Halil Altintop is not one of Turkey's 23 players.

This is pathetic, I mean Nihat is better, but no one ..... No one in Turkey's strikers plays in a better league than Halil ....

Their coach is a joke .

[Trim]

Turkey have won their general test ahead of their first Euro match.

Turkey 2 - 0 Finland

15' [1 - 0] T. Sanli
88' [2 - 0] S. Sentürk

[EURODAD]

Turkey is the team that I fear the most for Portugal.

[jec1]

The turks' have a good player in Servet Cetin, tall defender.... Emre Gungor, young CB is someone to watch for.

Arda Turan is a kid that is going to be a star.

[Trim]

Hamit Altintop got an injury in training for Turkey.
(Source: Altintop bangt um EM-Teilnahme)

He injured the adductor longus muscle on Friday night. He visted Bayern's doctor today.

Hamit is rated doutful for Turkey's first Euro match against Portugal on 7 June. If he won't get fit until the start of the Euro, coach Terim can replace him. Possible candidates are Bastürk (Stuttgart) and his brother Halil (Schalke).

[Vargas_4]

Too bad for Hamit, really. I admire the dude. He proved that he's worthy of wearing a Bayern Munich shirt this season.

I was hoping he'd make an appereance. Too bad he got this injury right at this stage.

[kyan]

Injured Altintop may be fit for Euro 2008 - Bayern

Hamit Altintop has travelled with the Turkey squad to their training base near Geneva, boosting the midfielder's chances of playing in Euro 2008 after he picked up an injury last week, his club Bayern Munich said on Monday.

Altintop suffered a muscle injury in training on Friday and it remained unclear whether the 25-year-old would be fit for Turkey's opening Group A match against Portugal on Saturday, the Bundesliga club said on their website.

Altintop only returned to action in a friendly against Uruguay last month after a two-month layoff due to a broken bone in his foot.

Turkey's other group opponents are Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/euro2008/10362/default.aspx

[Trim]

Altintop fit for Euro
‘He’s one of our most important weapons’

The run-up to the European championships has proved a trying time for Hamit Altintop. The Bayern midfielder celebrated a comeback after two months on the sidelines only to pick up a new injury. His twin brother Halil was then dropped from the Turkey squad, a development which left the 25-year-old FCB schemer “in a state of shock,” he reported on Tuesday. However, things have taken a turn for the better after the player banished any remaining concerns over his physical state. “Naturally, I’ll be fit to play on Saturday.”

The hamstring he tweaked in training last Friday was no longer a problem, he continued, and he had received the green light from the Turkey medical unit on Monday. Altintop has high hopes of appearing in his country’s Euro 2008 opener against Portugal: “I’m looking forward to it more and more every day.”

Just-in-time comeback

Altintop has been a doubt for the continental showdown since late March when he fractured a metatarsal in an international friendly against Belarus. He was in plaster for several weeks and missed the last phase of the German domestic season, before starting out on an intensive recuperation programme.

His comeback for Turkey came just 13 days before Euro 2008 in a 3-2 warm-up defeat to Uruguay. He started a final pre-tournament friendly against Finland last Thursday, but was substituted after pulling a muscle. The next day’s news reported him as doubtful for the contest in Austria and Switzerland with a hamstring injury.

Aiming to do well

“I really don’t know who started those stories,” the 25-year-old mused, never doubting he would be fit in time. A precautionary examination and treatment from Bayern chief medical officer Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt confirmed the right-sided player’s personal opinion.

Altintop is aiming high in his first appearance at a major tournament. “I’m convinced of our ability to do well at the Euro,” he commented after the Turks moved into their Geneva tournament base. Apart from Portugal, Hamit and his team-mates face Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Group A.

High expectations

Turkey head coach Fatih Terim believes Altintop has a vital role to play in his team’s efforts to seal a quarter-final berth. “Hamit is one of our most important weapons. He can beat an opposing team all on his own, and could become one of the star players at the European championships,” the national supremo declared.

Altintop declared fit for Euro 2008

[Daniel24]

Euro-Turkey squad penpix

Rustu Recber (Besiktas). Goalkeeper. Born: 10.5.73 Caps: 116 Goals: 0.

The 35-year-old’s star shone brightest during the World Cup in 2002 when his outstanding performances played a key role in Turkey reaching the semi-finals. His fortunes waned during a subsequent spell at Barcelona. Injuries and patchy form have marred his prospects of a place in the starting line-up.

Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce). Goalkeeper. Born: 27.10.81. Caps: 21

Injuries to Rustu have opened the way for the Fenerbahce goalkeeper to establish himself in the national team. His erratic form means his place is not guaranteed. His reputation as an effective shot stopper was enhanced by his Champions League displays on the way to last season’s quarter-finals.

Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor). Born 10.10.83. Caps: 2. Goals: 0

The 24-year-old from the Turkish Black Sea region came to prominence at Trabzonspor at the start of last season, earning him three call-ups for senior international friendlies, most recently conceding two goals against Belarus in March.

Servet Cetin (Galatasaray). Defender. Born: 17.3.81. Caps: 29 Goals: 1

The tall centre-back could be a valuable asset in dealing with the aerial threat from opponents at the finals. He established his place in the national team during a three-year spell at Fenerbahce and has remained a regular since joining Galatasaray last year.

Gokhan Zan (Besiktas). Defender. Born: 7.9.81. Caps: 19 Goals: 0

Despite suffering from injury problems, Gokhan has secured a regular place as centre-back in the national team in the last two years. His strong physique and height could earn him a place in the starting line-up.

Emre Asik (Ankaraspor). Defender. Born: 13.12.73. Caps: 27 Goals: 2

The experienced defender featured in the 2002 World Cup campaign and regained his place in the national team last year. The competitive, hard-tackling Emre has a depth of experience from playing with all three major Istanbul clubs. He is currently on loan from Galatasaray at Ankaraspor.

Emre Gungor (Galatasaray). Defender. Born: 1.8.84. Caps: 1

The promising young centre-back is likely to earn his first senior call-up on the back of his performances at Galatasaray this season, having been a regular at under-21 level. He is seen inheriting the mantle of defensive stalwart at the club from Bulent Korkmaz.

Hakan Balta (Galatasaray). Defender. Born: 23.3.83. Caps: 8 Goals: 1

The left-back earned his first national call-up in 2006 and featured in several of Turkey’s Euro 2008 qualifiers last year. Born in Berlin, he was signed up in 2003 by Turkish side Vestel Manisaspor, where his performances attracted the attention of Galatasaray.

Sabri Sarioglu (Galatasaray). Defender. Born 26.7.84. Caps: 13. Goals: 1

A product of the Galatasaray youth set-up, he can play both in midfield at and right-back. With his strong physique and pace, he has become an important player for the club, with his performances reportedly attracting the attention of Fiorentina.

Ugur Boral (Fenerbahce). Defender. Born 14.4.82. Caps: 8 Goals: 0

Left-back Ugur can also play on the left side of midfield, filling the space left there by the departure of Tuncay Sanli for Middlesbrough. He did not feature in Turkey’s qualification for Euro 2008 but his performances this season earned him call-ups to friendlies so far this year.

Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich). Midfielder. Born: 8.12.82. Caps: 42 Goals: 2

Hamit, whose surname means “golden ball”, broke a metatarsal bone in a friendly against Belarus in March which ended his season with Bayern Munich, putting him in doubt for Euro 2008. The midfielder is fast and has strong crossing ability and also contributes defensively.

Mehmet Aurelio (Fenerbahce). Midfielder. Born: 15.12.77. Caps: 19 Goals: 1

Born Marco Aurelio in Rio de Janeiro, he became a Turkish citizen in 2006 and took the name Mehmet. He caught the eye of Fenerbahce while playing at Trabzonspor and has since become a key part of the club’s midfield. He became the first naturalised player to be capped in August 2006.

Emre Belozoglu (Newcastle United). Midfielder. Born: 7.9.80. Caps: 56 Goals: 4

While at Inter Milan, Emre acquired the nickname “Maradona of the Bosphorus”, a testament to his natural talent. His career has been hit by injuries which have continued at Newcastle. He was banned for six internationals after a post-match brawl with Switzerland players in a 2006 World Cup playoff. Is set for a move back to his native Fenerbahce after Euro 2008.

Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray). Midfielder. Born: 3.3.86. Caps: 5 Goals: 0

The 22-year-old defensive midfielder, nicknamed “Spider” because of his skill with his long legs, has established himself in the Galatasaray first team this season. He can also play on the right side of midfield.

Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan). Midfielder. Born: 11.1.80. Caps: 46 Goals: 6

Gokdeniz was a key player for Trabzonspor, where he successfully linked up with Turkey team mate Fatih Tekke, before signing for Russia’s Rubin Kazan this year. He plays an attacking role from midfield. He was banned from football for 10 months in 2005 over a betting scandal.

Ayhan Akman (Galatasaray). Midfielder. Born 23.2.77. Caps: 10. Goals: 1

Joined Galatasaray in 2001 after a three-year spell with Besiktas was blighted by injury. With his aggressive playing style he has shown himself capable of playing in a variety of roles in midfield at Galatasaray, where has won three league championship medals.

Tumer Metin (Fenerbahce/Larissa). Midfielder. Born: 14.10.74. Caps: 23 Goals: 7

After five successful years at Besiktas, Tumer signed for Fenerbahce in 2006. However, he failed to live up to expectations and was loaned to Greece’s Larissa at the start of this year. He has stood out in his national team appearances, scoring several key goals.

Arda Turan (Galatasaray). Midfielder. Born: 30.1.87. Caps: 18 Goals: 1

The combative midfielder is capable of playing on both wings. His vision and passing skills have earned him comparisons wih former Galatasaray great Gheorghe Hagi. He has attracted the attention of a series of foreign sides but has pledged his future to the Istanbul club.

Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough). Forward. Born: 16.1.82. Caps: 54 Goals: 15

Fiery Tuncay earned the nickname “Braveheart” during his five years at Fenerbahce where he proved his versatility as a winger and striker, becoming the team’s top scorer in European competition, including a hat-trick against Manchester United. He is yet to fulfil his potential at Middlesbrough.

Nihat Kahveci (Villarreal). Forward. Born: 23.11.79. Caps: 54 Goals: 15.

He has played key goalscoring roles at Real Sociedad and Villarreal since moving to Spain in 2002. Nihat is a product of Besiktas’ youth system and made his debut for the national team in 2000. He was out of action for a year due to injury after his move to Villarreal. His goals against Norway and Bosnia played a major role in Turkey’s qualification for 2008.

Semih Senturk (Fenerbahce). Forward. Born: 29.4.83. Caps: 4 Goals: 1

The 25-year-old striker staked his claim for a place in Euro 2008 as top scorer in the domestic league this season. But he is short of international experience, having only broken into the national team last November. He has spent his entire career at Fenerbahce apart from a loan spell with Izmirspor.

Kazim Kazim (Fenerbahce). Forward. Born 26.8.86. Caps: 2 Goals: 0

Known as Kazim Kazim in Turkey, London-born Colin Kazim-Richards signed for Fenerbahce from Sheffield United last year. He has gradually established himself at the club and grabbed the headlines at the start of April with a spectacular goal against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Mevlut Erdinc (Sochaux). Forward. Born: 25.2.87. Caps: 4 Goals: 0

After a series of appearances in the under-21 team, Fatih Terim called up Mevlut to the senior side for the first time against Belarus in March. The 21-year-old, who also holds French nationality and goes by the name Erding there, was Sochaux’s top scorer last season.

Euro-Turkey squad penpix - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports

[Trim]

Defeat in opener
Altintop: We’re still extremely optimistic

Turkey coach Fatih Terim’s high estimation of Hamit Altintop was confirmed on Saturday when the 25-year-old appeared in his country’s opening match at Euro 2008 against Portugal despite missing almost the whole of the last six weeks with injury.

Until he was substituted with quarter of an hour remaining, Altintop gave a solid display in the unfamiliar right-back berth, coming away with credit from a head-to-head duel with Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. In an interview published by www.bundesliga.de, Hamit reviewed the opening day defeat and assessed Turkey’s chances for the rest of the tournament.

Interview: Hamit Altintop

Question: Hamit Altintop, Turkey lost their opening match 2-0 to Portugal and created almost nothing by way of chances. How disappointing is that?
Altintop: “We played very well in the first half, but we lost our way a little after half-time. The Portuguese switched things around a bit and we weren’t sure where to go looking for them.“

Question: Why do you think that was?
Altintop: “We have a few younger players in the team, and they may not have been able to cope with the pressure.“

Question: So you must be a little concerned about the rest of the tournament?
Altintop: “Obviously it’s not a great way to start, but I’m still very, very optimistic. Portugal were always favourites. No-one was expecting us to take anything from the match. Our tournament starts for real on Wednesday.“

Question: That’s when you play co-hosts Switzerland, who also lost their opening match. After the events at the end of the World Cup play-off meeting in 2005 there was an edge to the game in any case, and now it’s also the equivalent of a showdown for a place in the quarter-finals...
Altintop: “That’s true. But I still think we have a very good team, capable of beating Switzerland and taking revenge for 2005.“

Question: How will you bounce back from the disappointing display against Portugal?
Altintop: “We need to be a lot more determined. We’ll be talking about that in the dressing room. And I’ll be having a word with the coach personally about it too.“

Question: In the somewhat unfamiliar position of right-back, you came up against Cristiano Ronaldo, who certainly made you work hard. How do you feel about playing there?
Altintop: “Very good, basically.“

Altintop: We’re still extremely optimistic