TNT Sports
Turkey: We must take risks
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Published 15/11/2005 at 23:35 GMT
Switzerland go to Istanbul with a 2-0 World Cup play-off lead, but Turkey's boss Fatih Terim is sure his team have the ability and the mental strength to turn it around. "Great feats will always be risky. I know very well that my players will take the nec
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"The belief I have in my players is absolute. Important victories will always be a bit painful... I have been through many games like this. Hopefully, it will be like the victorious ones I had. I have no doubt that it will."
Referring to what the Turks perceived as bad refereeing decisions in the defeat to Switzerland, Terim was less than diplomatic:
"I think that was the most blatant penalty I have ever seen. If that same thing had happened on our side, I suppose the European press would have shredded the referee to pieces."
Terim's keeping faith in his experienced players such as Halil, in spite of the defeat as they have fought their ways out of losing situations before.
"They were not able to do the job, so they have to pay back their debt tomorrow." he added.
Regarding the danger of being picked off on the break, Terim replied with confidence.
"Their counter-attacks are very effective, it's true, but we will be going on to the field 2-0 down.
"There will be a Turkish team on that field that may change tactics at any given moment. Risks will not scare us. We will be pressing, but we know at the same time that if ever the Swiss score, our fate is in the hands of a divine force."
"We want our fans to be patient."
Terim said that both Emre and Hamit would play but that Basturk was not quite ready yet.
"I am going to make a decision about Yildiray (Basturk) tomorrow " he said.
Much has been made of the behaviour of the Swiss fans - who jeered the Turkish national anthem - and Terim is confident that they will be punished both on and off the field.
"I believe that [the behaviour of the Turkish fans] is reaction to the booing of a nation's national anthem."
Turkey stopper Volkan was particularly disturbed by the actions of the Swiss, saying
"While I saw what was being done to me and my friends (referring to bottles being thrown from the stands, which was confirmed by teammates and turkish press) I asked myself 'why are we doing sports?'"
The players released a joint statement, rather ominously saying : "We are going to give the Swiss what they deserve on the field tomorrow."
Turkey v Switzerland is live on Eurosport.com/uk on Wednesday from 19:15 cet.
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