Last update images today Kitchen Prints For Framing
Stars Run It Back, Give Duchene 1-year, $3M Deal
LEIPZIG, Germany, July 1 (Reuters) - Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella knows that without his captain Hakan Calhanoglu and defender Samet Akaydin he will have to work wonders with his lineup in their last-16 clash on Tuesday against an Austria team he believes is the best at Euro 2024.
Turkey's last outing was a hot-tempered group game against the Czech Republic that saw Montella's men receive a whopping 11 bookings - and Calhanoglu and Akaydin suspended for Tuesday for their accumulation of yellow cards.
"I always want everyone available for selection," Montella said. "We'll be without two players, they're irreplaceable. Of course it does bother me a little bit ... but I do believe that there will be players who are ready to step in and do their job."
Montella pointed to his team's offensive output in the group stage as a reason for optimism. They scored five goals -- joint third-best at the tournament -- from five different players. None were own goals or penalties. Turkey were also third in total shots, averaging 16.67 per game.
"So I think in possession we're doing excellently, we're doing excellently in front of goal as well," Montella said.
Still, the former Roma striker knows what a formidable foe Austria are. They thrashed his side 6-1 in a friendly in March and topped a European Championship group containing France, the Netherlands and Poland.
"They're a complete team, they're perhaps the best team as a team unit, they're a team that presses very aggressively high up the pitch very consistently, they're excellent in transition," Montella said.
"They remind me of a club team because they're able to recognise all different match situations," he added.
Montella will be hoping for another big game from "the Turkish Messi" Arda Guler, who became the youngest player to score on his Euro debut at 19 years and 114 days, an accolade previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
"He's a very talented player. And that's there for all to see," Montella said. "Of course, there are certain areas of his game that he needs to improve, but it's difficult to leave him out because as you see on the training ground, when you see those that take shots and score goals, he's amongst the best of the lot.
"When you are playing without Arda, you feel his absence."
Turkey, who reached the Euro 2008 semi-finals in their best run yet, arrived in Germany optimistic about going deep again.
But after beating Georgia 3-1 they were thumped 3-0 by Portugal and struggled to beat the 10-man Czech Republic 2-1 in their group stage finale. All three matches were highly charged.
Turkey defender Mert Muldur, speaking after the team's walkabout on the Leipzig Stadium pitch on Monday, is optimistic the team will be roared on by a huge crowd on Tuesday night.
"As soon as we stepped out onto the pitch each one of the players, we were all thinking what kind of an atmosphere we will have," Muldur said. "In previous games, we've been very well-loved and supported by our supporters. And hopefully, it'll be the same tomorrow, we'll go through similar emotions."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
1cb2e51d358df39b110137b761347c22 054364d3 5d78 4c87 8094 64cbe537162e 1.1d3b1c2cb87fb8a2ddb83d5abcbfc7fd Il 794xN.3307240123 Dpko Il 794xN.3307240351 J7zv 6cb093b9706b76b092cdf8d917e0ce71 Cea4460e5721b58b3bbd727cca57fcbd Home Design A21cf2038b18f39c6f62d4e0b68ea2a2 1c9263d6fa41634ff99ba3cf7c652b60 Db689cd31247230c74cc3270543d782f 8fdcc7b847d5a2d4d603236d6ff6bfb6 520e9d2f2c3e49da20a3a47abaf29a9a Eb897db2 4a39 4c4f Bc12 2c0497374fbe 7a73c593da1e933cb7f5dba61e9df0f2 S L500 Bfa4b8b53901fc30384f7463571637af Il 1588xN.2295374414 Lfcz 4ea77b826a02ffda522ddfbe88f0272d 4dfbf68fb7c429e253e8ac928c0d71b3 C63b817dfe3b1093ce172b7fcb3f3f8d Il 680x540.2346053554 Zkz3 C31b6f7e11af222c529ca5aa34962aa9 9fabcd3ed435951e22dba48ade5220fd Dd9c58c31f79b55f91a0439f995aced1 51196636f73f032c430791b53ea8ebb8 Dc6c8fab8923733f676c13c249ac7ec0 F42679c466654f5a8424bce3281017e5 S3 Kit Blue Or Strawb Lem [email protected] ?v=1585425008Framed Art 1 12805a 64 1000 Il 794xN.1235012151 3n7e 2024085 1 L Il 794xN.2340385021 9zjh Acd9ce22bf736487c5106a720c245b36 2922bcc8e7acb90cb3f537bd4e3f5597 053ae07967bdde655c9abf567717f591