03.06.2026 16:41
Patrick Kluivert, the legendary Dutch player who also served in our country for a period, revealed his favorites for the World Cup. Mentioning Turkey, Kluivert said, "First of all, my favorite in the World Cup is my country. France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Spain are also strong. Turkey is the surprise of the tournament. They have great potential."
Patrick Kluivert, the legendary Dutch footballer who managed Adana Demirspor in the Super League in recent years, made exclusive statements to TRT Sport before the World Cup.
''DON'T UNDERESTIMATE TURKEY''
Stating that our National Team is not to be underestimated, Kluivert said, "Definitely do not underestimate Turkey; they could be one of the surprise teams of the World Cup. Turkey absolutely deserved to qualify for the finals. I would really like Turkey to be successful. With the quality players they have, they will definitely make their mark on the tournament. They have great potential."
"THEY HAVE BIG STARS"
The legendary figure continued, "Yes, there are players playing for big clubs abroad, like Arda, Kenan, Hakan... Of course, there are also players who wear the Galatasaray jersey. Despite being very young, Arda plays for Real Madrid. He gains very important experiences from the players he shares the field with there. These types of players are the most important parts of the national team. Also, I think the atmosphere in Turkey will be fantastic."
"I CANNOT FORGET TURKEY"
Speaking about his life in Turkey, Kluivert said, "I cannot forget my time at Adana Demirspor. I always appreciate Turkey's football culture and atmosphere. Especially the matches we played at Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, and Fenerbahçe stadiums and the atmosphere were magnificent. Curaçao, where I served as technical director for a while, also did good work with Dick Advocaat and reached the final. However, they have very strong opponents."
"TURKEY CAN PULL OFF A SURPRISE"
Stating that his favorite is the Netherlands, Kluivert noted that Turkey could spring a surprise, saying, "My favorite? Of course, my own country. The Netherlands is always among the favorites. France is also a very strong team. We must not forget Brazil either. There are very big countries like Argentina, Germany, and Spain, which are always contenders in the World Cup. But don't underestimate Turkey. Definitely don't underestimate them. Many people say Turkey could be the surprise team of the tournament. They really could pull off a big surprise."