No UEFA respite for hard-hit Turks

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-23  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

DESPITE Turkey's injury and suspension crisis ahead of Wednesday's semifinal match against Germany at the European Championship, UEFA has no plans to alter its rules and allow the team to call up more players.

The Turks were without six players when they beat Croatia 3-1 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals on Friday, and lost a further three - Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik - to suspension due to accumulated cards during the match in Vienna.

Striker Nihat Kahveci also hurt his thigh and looks certain to be ruled out, adding to coach Fatih Terim's worries as Turkey looks to reach its first final at a major football tournament.

Emre Gungor (calf) has already been ruled out of Euro 2008, while Servet Cetin (hip and knee), Tumer Metin (groin) and Emre Belozoglu (hamstring) face a race to be fit in time.

Defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returns from a one-match ban, but goalkeeper Volkan Demirel still has one game left on his suspension after being sent off against the Czech Republic last week. Turkey is appealing that suspension.

"You can't replace any players after the first game (of the tournament) has been played," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said yesterday. "We know some teams are facing difficulties, but this is a hard rule of the tournament. We have no intention of changing the tournament rules.

"If a team only had eight players to choose from before a match, then we might call an emergency meeting. But we have had no requests and we would find it a bit difficult changing now."

Germany coach Joachim Loew has coached in Turkey and knows the country well but still has trouble figuring out the national team.

"The Turks have shown throughout the tournament that you can't count them out no matter what the score in the game is," Loew said. "They are hard to figure out and therefore dangerous."

Loew coached Fenerbahce during the 1998-99 season and also had a brief stint at Adanaspor. "I have many friends there with whom I am in contact."

Turkey came from behind in three games, most memorably in the quarterfinals against Croatia when it scored on the last kick of the game in extra time to equalize after conceding a goal only a minute earlier. Turkey then won the penalty shootout. Andreas Koepke, one of Loew's assistants, said Loew remained "cool" and didn't show much reaction when Turkey advanced.