Euro 2008

Coach
FATIH Terim: Took Turkey to Euro 96, where they lost every match without scoring a goal, before fairing rather better with Galatasaray, with whom he won the UEFA Cup in 2000. Returned to the Turkish national side in the summer of 2005. Has an adventurous, attacking mentality.

Goalkeepers
RÜSTÜ Reçber (Besiktas): Veteran goalkeeper of the 2002 World Cup semi final run and even as far back as Euro 96 but was found out at Barcelona and is no longer first choice. Wears distinctive black paint under his eyes to prevent glare.

TOLGA Zengin (Trabzonspor): Third choice goalkeeper with just two caps, one of which was against Luxembourg. Has edged Serdar Kulbilge and Hakan Arikan out of the squad.

VOLKAN Derimel (Fenerbahçe): Tall 26-year-old set to start the first match against Portugal. Helped take Fenerbahçe to an improbable place in the UEFA Champions League quarter finals.

Defenders
EMRE Asik (Ankaraspor): Disappeared from international football shortly after Turkey’s memorable 2002 World Cup campaign but has recently returned. Turkey’s veteran central defender at 34.

EMRE Güngör (Galatasaray): Emerging talent, the centre-back recently moved to one of Istanbul’s ‘big three’ after impressing at Ankaragucu.

GÖKHAN Zan (Besiktas): Happily for the medial, the only one of three high-profile Gökhans - along with right-back Gönül and striker Unal - to make the squad. A versatile defender, the 26-year-old is likely to start at centre-back.

HAKAN Balta (Galatasaray): Left wing-back who likes to get forward and build attacks. Has a powerful shot and is likely to start.

HAMIT Altintop (Bayern Munich): Is really a right-sided midfielder but is often pushed back to right-back to take advantage of Sabri’s attacking tendencies (and protect him from his poor disciplinary record). Brother of Shalke striker Halil, who is a surprise omission from the squad.

SERVET Çetin (Galatasaray): First-choice central defender with plenty of international experience. Tall and strong in the air, will be useful at set pieces at either end of the pitch. Should have a good relationship with his club-mates at full-back.

UGUR Boral (Fenerbahçe): Attack minded right wing-back who, like Sabri, prefers attacking to defending. Has pace and skill but there isn’t a likely place for him in the first XI.

Midfielders
ARDA Turan (Galatasaray): One of the best players in the Turkcell Süper Lig, Arda poses a strong threat on either wing but is most likely to start wide left. Only 21 but has established himself as a stronger alternative to Ugur.

Mehmet AURÉLIO (Fenerbahçe): Originally Marcos Aurélio, the Brazilian ex-pat had to adopt a Turkish first name when naturalized in 2006. Has established himself as the rock at the heart of the Fenerbahçe midfield.

AYHAN Akman (Galatasaray): 31-year-old midfielder whose inclusion in Fatih’s squad suprised some at home. Has been at his club for seven years and has a credible goalscoring record from the middle of the park.

EMRE Belözoglu (Newcastle Utd): Has all but sealed a move to Fenerbahçe after poor form at St James’ Park. Pint-sized left-footed attacking midfielder who knows how to hit the target from long range, as Norway discovered in their vital meeting in Oslo last November. Was suspended after the fracas against Switzerland in 2005.

GÖKDENIZ Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan): Russian-based wide man most capable on the right. Starred at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup but has failed to cement himself as a permanent fixture since.

KÂZIM Kâzim (Fenerbahçe): Or Colin Kazim-Richards, as Brighton, Sheffield Utd fans and his Turkish-Cypriot mother know him. Another naturalized ex-pat, has experienced an extraordinary rise in fortunes since leaving Brammall Lane. Can play as a right-winger or up front.

MEHMET Topal (Galatasaray): Inexperienced holding midfielder who took advantage of Tobias Linderoth’s recent pelvic trouble to find form in the first team. Namesake Aurélio is a more likely starter and, frankly, better player.

SABRI Sarioglu (Galatasaray): A versatile, right-sided player who may swap from right-back to right-wing with Hamit Altintop periodically throughout matches. Strong with both feet but better at attacking than defending.

TÜMER Metin (Larissa): Greek-based wide man who takes a mean free-kick with his lethal left foot. A controversial figure, the 33-year-old was said by some to have avoided Turkey’s equivalent of national service. Performed well in qualifying.

Strikers
MEVLÜT Erdinç (Sochaux): Turkey have a plethora of reasonable, but not great, strikers and France-born Mevlüt is one of them. Who Fatih would pick up front was anybody’s guess but few expected him to be among them. Made his début in March against Belarus.

NIHAT Kahveci (Villarreal): Imaginatively nicknamed el Turco at El Madrigal, Nihat is a born goalscorer and netted crucial winners in the last two qualifying matches against Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovina. A top talent and Turkey’s most important player.

SEMIH Sentürk (Fenerbahçe): Top scorer in the Turkcell Süper Lig, Semih has vital UEFA Champions League experience this season. Has a habit of scoring important goals late on.

TUNCAY Sanli (Middlesbrough): A match-winner for Middlesbrough, a versatile withdrawn forward capable of doing something special. Might start wide left but can also play as a second striker to Nihat.

Wish You Were Here?
HAKAN Sükür (Galatasaray): With 51 goals to his name, the 36-year-old who propelled Turkey to the quarter finals of Euro 2000 has been understandably difficult for Fatih Terim to shake off and did well in qualifying, scoring four goals in one game in a 5-0 win over Moldova but time has caught up with the talismanic target man.

SEE ALSO: Are Turkey dark horses for Euro success? (Reuters Soccer Blog)

Tags: Euro 2008, Terim Fatih, Turkey

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