MUHLIS
10-10-2003, 11:50 AM
Tomorros is the game.
DEspite Turkey has many brilliant players, Hakan Shukur is remaining as their major "savior". Here is an interesting article about him:
Sükür punch lifts Turkey
Friday, 10 October 2003
By Pete Sanderson
Hakan Sükür is still a star player at Galatasaray SK
Football fans in Istanbul danced long into the night on the banks of the Bosphorus last year following Turkey's remarkable achievements at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Cause for joy
Twelve months later, those passionate scenes were repeated as Galatasaray SK fans learnt that the most famous No9 ever to wear Turkish colours - Hakan Sükür - was returning to the club.
The striker is the most famous No9 in Turkish history
Key player
Hakan Sükür has been a mainstay of the Turkish international attack for nearly 12 years, and should he win his fitness race for Saturday's must-win qualifier against England, he could play a major role in his country's bid to reach UEFA EURO 2004™.
Destination Portugal
"It is a huge game, I do not deny that," Hakan Sükür told uefa.com. "It means everything to the Turkish fans to go to Portugal - especially after the World Cup. But I think it is a shame the media are concentrating on the problems off the pitch. Our fans will support us but I do not anticipate any trouble."
Generation game
Hakan Sükür is to Turkish football what Mohammad Ali was to boxing. Not only was he the first genuine Turkish star, capable of trading blows with the big boys in the international football playground, he also inspired a generation of players to do it with him.
Great progress
Following Hakan Sükür's lead, Turkey have made huge strides in the world arena, culminating in their third-placed finish in Korea/Japan. But for all their progress the former Internazionale FC, Parma AC and Blackburn Rovers FC forward confessed that all the players were feeling the heat ahead of the Group 7 decider.
Football in Turkey is like a religion and it is not easy to be successful under that much emotional pressure
Hakan Sükür
Pressure on
"We do believe we can win the game but there is real pressure on us to perform," he said. "Football in Turkey is like a religion and it is not easy to be successful under that much emotional pressure. But people can say what they like - the fact is, it is the players who play the game on the pitch and have to get the result."
European ambition
It is not only at international level that Turkish football has moved on, Hakan Sükür says, and the 32-year-old is keen to see Galatasaray go one better than their UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup victories in 2000.
Finest hour
"Winning the UEFA Cup was the highlight of my career," he said. "I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. It would be a dream to win the UEFA Champions League, but maybe it will remain a dream for now."
Stage fright
Hakan Sükür has scored in Galatasaray's opening two games in Champions League Group D - but he confessed that the defeats by Juventus FC and Real Sociedad de Fútbol have left Galatasaray with an uphill battle if they are to progress. "Our realistic aim before we began was to reach the next round," he said. "If we could do that, we wanted the semi-finals - it will be tough but I still think we can do it."
Domestic situation
Turkish champions Besiktas JK's impressive start to the European season has done little to ease the pressure on Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim and his players, but for the time being, all thoughts of club football are on the back burner.
Rivalries on hold
On Saturday, Istanbul's big teams will put their fierce local rivalries to one side as Senol Günes's men go in search of the victory that will take them to Portugal. And in Hakan Sükür, supporters will know that Turkey have the striker capable of finding it.
DEspite Turkey has many brilliant players, Hakan Shukur is remaining as their major "savior". Here is an interesting article about him:
Sükür punch lifts Turkey
Friday, 10 October 2003
By Pete Sanderson
Hakan Sükür is still a star player at Galatasaray SK
Football fans in Istanbul danced long into the night on the banks of the Bosphorus last year following Turkey's remarkable achievements at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Cause for joy
Twelve months later, those passionate scenes were repeated as Galatasaray SK fans learnt that the most famous No9 ever to wear Turkish colours - Hakan Sükür - was returning to the club.
The striker is the most famous No9 in Turkish history
Key player
Hakan Sükür has been a mainstay of the Turkish international attack for nearly 12 years, and should he win his fitness race for Saturday's must-win qualifier against England, he could play a major role in his country's bid to reach UEFA EURO 2004™.
Destination Portugal
"It is a huge game, I do not deny that," Hakan Sükür told uefa.com. "It means everything to the Turkish fans to go to Portugal - especially after the World Cup. But I think it is a shame the media are concentrating on the problems off the pitch. Our fans will support us but I do not anticipate any trouble."
Generation game
Hakan Sükür is to Turkish football what Mohammad Ali was to boxing. Not only was he the first genuine Turkish star, capable of trading blows with the big boys in the international football playground, he also inspired a generation of players to do it with him.
Great progress
Following Hakan Sükür's lead, Turkey have made huge strides in the world arena, culminating in their third-placed finish in Korea/Japan. But for all their progress the former Internazionale FC, Parma AC and Blackburn Rovers FC forward confessed that all the players were feeling the heat ahead of the Group 7 decider.
Football in Turkey is like a religion and it is not easy to be successful under that much emotional pressure
Hakan Sükür
Pressure on
"We do believe we can win the game but there is real pressure on us to perform," he said. "Football in Turkey is like a religion and it is not easy to be successful under that much emotional pressure. But people can say what they like - the fact is, it is the players who play the game on the pitch and have to get the result."
European ambition
It is not only at international level that Turkish football has moved on, Hakan Sükür says, and the 32-year-old is keen to see Galatasaray go one better than their UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup victories in 2000.
Finest hour
"Winning the UEFA Cup was the highlight of my career," he said. "I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. It would be a dream to win the UEFA Champions League, but maybe it will remain a dream for now."
Stage fright
Hakan Sükür has scored in Galatasaray's opening two games in Champions League Group D - but he confessed that the defeats by Juventus FC and Real Sociedad de Fútbol have left Galatasaray with an uphill battle if they are to progress. "Our realistic aim before we began was to reach the next round," he said. "If we could do that, we wanted the semi-finals - it will be tough but I still think we can do it."
Domestic situation
Turkish champions Besiktas JK's impressive start to the European season has done little to ease the pressure on Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim and his players, but for the time being, all thoughts of club football are on the back burner.
Rivalries on hold
On Saturday, Istanbul's big teams will put their fierce local rivalries to one side as Senol Günes's men go in search of the victory that will take them to Portugal. And in Hakan Sükür, supporters will know that Turkey have the striker capable of finding it.