Turkey Needs To Upset Dutch To Keep Euro 16 Dream Alive

Turkey and the Netherlands both got off to a troubled start in their 2016 European Championship qualifiers, and they are playing catch up against each other on Saturday in Amsterdam.

That gives the Netherlands two clear advantages: the home pitch and the fact that the hosts have six points in group A to Turkey's four. The Dutch were group favorites until current leader the Czech Republic and Iceland, with 12 and nine points, respectively, got off to surprisingly good starts in qualification. However, the Netherlands has yet to lose on its home soil, which may spell trouble for Turkey.

History is on the Netherlands' side as well, as Turkey has only defeated the Dutch in two out of 10 matches played. Only one of those two was an official match.

“In past matches it was always that only Turkey had to win, while the Netherlands was comfortable or already guaranteed to advance past the group,” striker Burak Yılmaz said, according to the Cihan news agency. “We know it will not be easy, but we want to turn the fact that the Netherlands started off poorly to our advantage and win. They are missing two important players, but in terms of football, it is one of the most important countries in the world,” he said.

The Netherlands is indeed a world-class team, but coach Guus Hiddink will miss some of his top talents. Star strikers Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben are both ruled out of the match.

Burak is expecting a full recovery for himself by match time, but the Turks are suffering a major setback as well. Arda Turan will be sitting out the next match due to an accumulation of cards, but the Atletico Madrid playmaker has faith.

“We can play really well in the Netherlands and win. We can then go to the European Championship through the playoffs. If you have Fatih Terim leading you, you can achieve something with even the slightest chance of success,” Arda said of the Turkey coach, the most successful in the history of the national team.

Band together

There is some potential tension for Turkey. Veteran national team and Fenerbahçe playmaker Emre Belözoğlu stirred up controversy for himself yet again with an abusive outburst during his team's match against Beşiktaş last weekend.

It might be too soon for him to share a jersey with Beşiktaş players and many fans certainly will not have forgiven him.

But Turkey should band together on Saturday. Turks would like more than anything to see their team finally attend another major international football event after watching the past two Euros and World Cups fly by. Turkey is stuck in a quagmire, but one strategic win could help lift them out of it.

“Getting past the group stage will be really hard, but if we win the Netherlands match, we will advance because our confidence will peak with a win,” Burak said. “I think they are wary of us, too. I am not saying that out of arrogance, but our former coach knows what good players we are,” the Galatasaray player insists.

Hiddink is currently at the helm of the Netherlands team and midfielder Wesley Sneijder currently plays for Galatasaray. In 2010-11, Hiddink tried in vain to lead Turkey to Euro 2012. This time, he will be trying to keep Turkey out of the Euro 16.

At least the Turkish fans will get to watch, which wasn't guaranteed until Thursday. No Turkish channel had signed up to broadcast the critical match. But with a nudge from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Show TV took it on. The match kicks off at 9:45 p.m., Turkish time, at the Amsterdam Arena and the referee will be German Felix Brych.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)