Haberler      English      العربية      Pусский      Kurdî      Türkçe
  En.Haberler.Com - Latest News
SEARCH IN NEWS:
  HOME PAGE 28/03/2024 21:56 
News  > 

Captain Arda Hopeful Turkey Can Make Euro 2016 Playoffs

08.10.2015 18:06

Barcelona midfielder and Turkey captain Arda Turan is optimistic of his team's chance of a spot in the Euro 2016 playoffs with two games to go, with the top two spots in Group C already decided.“We are heading for an important turnaround. Our country and the team really need the [2016] European Championship.

Barcelona midfielder and Turkey captain Arda Turan is optimistic of his team's chance of a spot in the Euro 2016 playoffs with two games to go, with the top two spots in Group C already decided.
“We are heading for an important turnaround. Our country and the team really need the [2016] European Championship. Hopefully, we will get there,” he said.
Group leader Iceland and second-placed Czech Republic have both earned automatic berths for next year's finals in France. With their head-to-head records identical -- both sides won 2-1 at home -- Iceland leads only by virtue of a superior goal difference.
That leaves Turkey and the Netherlands battling it out for third spot and a berth in the playoffs. And, by sheer coincidence, the Turks will play the already qualified teams in two consecutive matches -- the Czechs at home in Konya on Saturday and Iceland away next Tuesday. The Netherlands take on Kazakhstan away on Saturday and host the Czech Republic on Tuesday
The Turks leapfrogged the Netherlands into third after walloping the Dutchmen 3-0 in Konya on Sept. 6. Two points ahead of the 1988 champion, Turkey will secure a playoff berth if it draws in the Czech Republic on Saturday and the Dutch lose in Kazakhstan. That gives added importance to the remaining matches.
And Arda is raring to go for Turkey. “The national team is a very important place for me, a place where emotions run sky high. And I can't sleep due to excitement [for Turkey],” he said.
“Here we go again -- but at least we are nearing the end. We were really distressed ahead of the Netherlands game. Now we have our fate in our own hands and a great opportunity to make the European Championship,” Arda stated.
Arda said that for many years the national football team has never come so close to qualifying for the European finals and voiced his hope that the hoodoo could be broken this time around.
“This is something within our reach. No team [in the group] is superior to us. Even though we drew with Latvia, we proved what we are capable of doing against the Netherlands. We have played pretty well throughout this tournament, except in the Iceland match. And you may rest assured that we will get what we deserve,” he added.

OKAN UDO BASSEY / ISTANBUL (Cihan/Today's Zaman)



 
Latest News





 
 
Top News