by Yuksel Serdar Oguz
ANKARA (AA) - Turkey are at difficult bend to secure a place in the play-off to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The target is to beat Estonia in a critical game with as big a difference as possible, and then triumph over the Netherlands at home like they did 1-0 in 1997. Estonia on the other hand will try to keep their prestige at home.
Focusing on the next 180 minutes of two matches against Estonia and Netherlands, the only alternative for the Red and Whites is gaining six points from those games. In the meantime, Turkish internationals expect Hungary - now 2nd in group D standings - to stumble upon the leaders Netherlands, and Andorra to surprise against Romania.
The Estonia match will be the third game of legendary coach Fatih Terim, who was appointed in August 2013 and started his duty with the motto "We pursue a miracle."
After reaching their hotel on Wednesday, the team undertook their first training in the evening with coach Terim striving to motivate the players by reminding, "Estonia drew 2-2 with the Netherlands and cannot be underestimated."
The first game between Turkey and Estonia was played in Turkey and the home team won the match 3-0, but Turkey's unexpected point losses against Hungary and Romania at home made the Red and Whites fall behind their opponents. Even Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal stated he expected Turkey to rank 2nd when the group standings finalize. Yet Van Gaal said Turkey's job is difficult and their opponents have a greater advantage.
"Turkey has a good team but their results in the group matches disappointed me. Now Turkey have a challenging fixture that they will play against Estonia then us. We are planning to beat both Hungary at home and Turkey away. Romania look more advantageous in terms of their fixtures than Turkey to rank 2nd in the group for striving the play-offs, I must say"
Both Turkey and Romania have 13 points after 8 eight games, however Turkey is one step further in averages and thus ranks 3rd in the group behind Hungary.
In case everything goes as expected, Turkey will stage a final against the Netherlands - who already guaranteed the leadership - at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. But even a possible win does not take Turkey directly to play-off as they need to place among the eight best teams which placed 2nd in their groups. The points between the 2nd teams are calculated according to their matches against the 1st, 3rd and 4th teams in the groups. Since Turkey drew with Hungary and beat Romania, they now have four points which will reach seven if the Red and Whites triumph over the Oranges.
Turkey will face Estonia on Friday October 11 at 21.30 EET at A Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia. The match will be broadcast live by Star TV in Turkey.
On the other hand, the Turkey -Netherlands match will be played on Tuesday, October 15 at 21.00 EET at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey. The match will be broadcast live by Star TV in Turkey.
- Turkey squad named for Estonia and Netherlands matches
Turkey's team, coached by Fatih Terim, have been announced for the Estonia and Netherlands games of FIFA 2014 World Cup European Qualification Group D:
Goalkeepers:
Tolga Zengin (Besiktas), Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce), Onur Recep Kivrak (Trabzonspor)
Defenders:
Ersan Adem Gulum (Besiktas), Gokhan Gonul and Hasan Ali Kaldirim (Fenerbahce), Semih Kaya (Galatasaray), Aykut Demir (Trabzonspor), Omer Toprak (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Midfielders:
Olcay Sahan, Gokhan Tore (Besiktas), Alper Potuk, Caner Erkin and Mehmet Topal (Fenerbahce), Selcuk Inan, (Galatasaray), Olcan Adin (Trabzonspor), Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid), Salih Dursun (Kayserispor), Hakan Calhanoglu (Hamburger SV)
Forwards:
Mustafa Pektemek (Besiktas), Burak Yilmaz and Umut Bulut, (Galatasaray), Cenk Tosun (Gaziantepspor)
Key players
Arda Turan is expected to become the lynchpin of the new Turkey side. The Atletico Madrid midfielder, born on January 30, 1987, gained notice during the Spanish Premier League (La Liga) and Champions League fixture in the creative department alongside Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz, the top goal scorer of the Turkish Super League for two seasons and one of the brilliant forwards of the Champions League with eight goals in a previous season. Galatasaray's captain and playmaker Selcuk Inan and Besiktas' young talent Gokhan Tore are the key players.
After missing out on successive FIFA World Cup finals in 2006 and 2010, Turkey are determined to be part of Brazil 2014. Hopes rest largely on shaping a new generation into a team capable of holding their own among the world elite. In August 2013 coach Abdullah Avci was replaced by the legendary Fatih Terim for his third stint at the national team helm.
GROUP D
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|
| Netherlands |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
4 |
+20 |
22 |
| Hungary |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
18 |
12 |
+6 |
14 |
| Turkey |
8 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
14 |
7 |
+7 |
13 |
| Romania |
8 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
12 |
+1 |
13 |
| Estonia |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
16 |
−10 |
7 |
| Andorra |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
24 |
−24 |
0 |
FIXTURE
October 11
Estonia - Turkey........................... 21:30
Andorra - Romania...................... 21:30
Netherlands - Hungary............... 21:30
October 15
Turkey - Netherlands.................. 21:30
Hungary - Andorra..................... 21:30
Romania - Estonia...................... 21:00
