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Turkey On Menu

June 16th, 2008 | By: Mario | 30 Comments »

So I guess it’s Turkey on our menu on Friday. To be honest, when asked which one I preferred, Czech Republic or Turkey, I always thought of the Czech first.

Why? First answer that pops up is they’re actually a stronger side, and we tend to do better when facing tougher opposition. Though these 2 sides played a cracker of a match yesterday (1st half aside), I can’t say I’ve been impressed with either of them, if not mildly disappointed with their performances on this tournament. Though I salute the effort to come back from a goal down twice in one week, I can’t help but feel Turkey have been riding their luck all throughout their group matches (including the Portugal match). I hope it stops on Friday anyway. As it stands, it’ll be a tight affair, and here’s to hoping our talented players and passionate fans each make a difference.

But it’s a long way till Friday, and we do have a match to play in the meantime.

“Second String Won’t Embarrass Us”
And that’s according to Bilic’s interview on Goal.com. I’m thinking the word “embarrassment” isn’t quite the word to be using when talking about your players, but I guess the point is brought up well enough. These players certainly won’t be lacking in motive department, as their coach, teammates, fans and only the rest of the world will be watching. This might even be a once in a lifetime chance for some of these players to step up and shine on the big stage. Poland beware. Oh and don’t forget to drop a visit to the game’s live blog as well.

Black Armbands But No Silence
And as expected, the UEFA committee has rejected our request (they’re just doing it “by the books”) to grant a one minute silence in honor of the young Croatian fan that tragically passed away in Klagenfurt last Thursday. I guess rules & regulations are there for a reason. But God help me if there’s a reason to abide them in a time like this.

Our players will be wearing black armbands to honor the life of young Marin Zubcic (age 22).

Tags: Croatia, Croatia Poland

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 30 comments.

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By Tony | June 16th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

If your in a State or country that allows gambling then here is a sure bet. Turkey has no chance with Croatia. Croatia will be taking this Cup right home to Zagreb! We made the Germans look like robots they were frustrated beyond belief that we had control of the whole game. It was a genuine “shut down”. Like taking candy from a little german child. Don’t get me wrong Germany has a long history of victory and championships but this is not the year for them and neither in 1998. I don’t know about everyone else but I feel at ease when Modric is in posession. He’s the reason Croatia is beating teams so far. The way I see it is that if we play like how we have NO team has a chance not even Portugal! HRVATSKA!!!! -U-

By jero | June 16th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

Turkey will be a tough match.We will have to play a solid 90 minutes to get through.Scoring still looks hard for us but we’re creating chances.Hopefully we’ll put a couple more in when we’re on top in matches.
Happy with the win today though.Vejic looked good I thought and will fill in nicely if needed and Klasnic will be improved by the run.Pranjic was solid again and even looks more like a defender in front of goal, he might have scored those a few months ago when he was more programmed as an attacker.

By Antony | June 16th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

Turkey definitely scares me. Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t really know any of their players or because of that crazy comeback against Czech Republic. They definitely have heart. We have to score on our chances and bury them early because they’ve played a lot better in the 2nd halves of all their games. I’m guessing a 1-0 win for us with a goal by Srna

Posted from Canada

By Milan | June 17th, 2008 at 12:18 am

I am weary of turkey but after seeing Croatias performance against Poland I am confident we will win.

By Sami | June 17th, 2008 at 6:37 am

Spend your holiday with friends and family at the stadium in Vienna and watch the chief’s preparing turkey dinner. All of these side dishes require short cooking times and balance oven baking and stovetop cooking.

Posted from Netherlands

By musab | June 17th, 2008 at 9:59 am

Im expecting a pretty good match this Friday. May the best team on the day win.

Posted from United States

By natasha | June 17th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

where are croatians supporting the players on friday in london?
want to feel the atmosphere…

By Meymo | June 18th, 2008 at 7:28 am

I Suppose the Croatians will score one or two goals, but that will not be enough to beat the Turks. They are good with comebacks!

For them there must be something to loose, to start with!
After that they play very good..

Posted from Netherlands

By Adrien | June 18th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Natasha – Try the 3 kings pub in west kensington. The landlord has worked hard to attract Croatians to the pub and the atmosphere was quite good when I went there for Croatia’s opening game.

Regarding the game, I’m wary… Everything seems too good to be true. Turkey is arguably the weakest team to play against in the quarters not to mention injury riddled with a second choice goalkeeper. And our team is rested, confident with no serious injuries or suspensions after a perfect group stage.

Guess I’m just not used to being the favourites!

By jero | June 18th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Yes, we were favourites against only Austria so far and that was bad.However, Austria gave everyone a good game so maybe they were just better than people thought.Turkey is a whole level up from the group because it’s a one off.Everyone needs to be at their best.We lost Budan and Knezevic so hopefully no more injuries.I thought Vejic looked good though so there is hope at the back after the tournament if Kovac and Simic retire.Oh to have Eduardo back now.It will have to be Olic and Killer to take us through

Posted from Australia

By Zee | June 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Croatia are better team than Turkey, but the late goals from them shows they have plenty of character. Its simple. If Cro are 1-0, 2-0 up, Turkey will not come back into this game. We know the defence is solid and the midfield is the real talent, but the strike force is strong and getting better by every match.

By Emre | June 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

I hope Turkey will win but I believe that Croatia is the definate favorite. First our Turkish coach is crazy (literally). second we have too many injured and carded players. Third I’ve seen Croatia and I think they have been playing better and more organized overall. However, Turkey may surprise if they play with passion so I wouldn’t bet on Croatia very strongly.

By Denis S | June 20th, 2008 at 2:59 am

Croatia vs Turkey

Look, turkey played great, they played with heart, and they really wanted to win the game against czech rep. But they also had a little bit of luck on their side. But luck last only so long…

Here is the reason I believe Croatia will win this one.
OUR FORMATION: We will play in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Olic with his speed on top will make turkey uncomfortable, and Turkeys goaly will be nervouse as HELL! Meanwhile kranjcar will be behind olic on top, which means hard shots from outside the box. Anyway, kranjcar hasn’t been spectacular lately, but i think he will shine against turkey. The reason why is because he is in better shape now then he was in our last 2 games. He gained so much physical endurance and strength that he will clearly do a lot better.

Midfield: Im really excited about our midfield! Rakitic has been fenominal, I mean VERY VERY good. And modric will play the game of his life for this game. Kovac will play with heart as always. He will put 110% on the field. And daniel pranjic will be too fast for the turks! I mean we will dominate big time in the midfield. We will have lots and lots of shots on goal. Hopefully we will have a little luck on our side and score a bunch. I think croatia will win by 3-0.

By Emre | June 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

I really thought we would be defeated as I have written here earlier… I can’t believe how we got this game this is total unbelievable. Last minutes seem to be Turkish minutes…

Well, I am scared of Germany right now.

By Zickler | June 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Turkey is as good as cooked. There won’t even be enough Turkey left for the Germans to run over. Nonetheless BRAVO Turkey, most teams would have given up a long long time ago. Showed some real German virtues out there ironic ain’t it.

Posted from United States

By Zickler | June 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

Oh where are the boastful Croatians now? Going to beat Turkey? Going to beat Germany? Going to win the final? Nope going home with the English!

Posted from United States

By AHMET | June 20th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Where is the lady keeping a plate of turkey now??????????? The luck survives this much, gentlemen? Be serious and realistic. This is TURKEY, not a turkey bird… Wake up and congratulate the WINNER. TURRKEEEYYYYY.

By AHMET | June 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

WHAT A MENU, HAH !!!???? TURKEY IS BIG ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU A N ACHE IN YOUR STOMACH BUDDIES HEHEHEHEH

By Ahmet | June 20th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

First of all, congratulations crotia for your good game, they are good team. I am so happy to win. I prayed to God along the match. And thanks to God for accepting my prays. However, honestly, crotia is better team as football dicipline. But turkey’s soccers are more brilliant and have talent than crotia soccers individually. We never gave up! This was the good match thanks for everyone.
And please discard this racialist pictures like above “turkey”. Its just football. calm down! Everyone are human. Yes there is a bit difference between “us” like to be “we are Turk” . Thats our nation characteristics of never “giving up”
Good night.

By said okur | June 20th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

I’d like hear from the Croatian fans
Well no one can say it was luck!
Turkey dominated most of the game, couldn’t score.
Croatia had few but very dangerous attacks and they could have scored more.
I think overall it was a good game but Turkey deserved this win.

By Joe | June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

Zickler, the “boastful” Croatians are still here, we’re still proud of our players and we are thankful for their heroism. The luck just ran out, and it seems that the planets have aligned for Turkey the same way they did for Greece four years ago.

Said Okur, I would like to respectfully disagree. Croatia played brilliantly up until the 120th minute and definitely deserved the win. But as what happened against France in the Semi Final of World Cup 1998, Croatia scored first then conceeded moments later – our players got too excited and forgot how to defend and now they also got rattled and forgot how to take penalties.

“te sekkür ederim” for a good game. Let’s see what happens against Germany. Now I know to start watching from the 87th minute.

Zivjela Hrvatska!!!

Posted from Australia

By Oytun | June 21st, 2008 at 2:38 am

Turkey for hey ha hha ha a ha ha ha TURKEY 4- CROATIA 2 EAT A FAT ONE B******

Posted from Australia

By Joe | June 21st, 2008 at 3:28 am

Oytun,
Finally Turkey gets its revenge after Croatia kicked you out of the Euro 96. But please be gracious in victory, because at the moment you are only sounding like a fool.
Good luck in your Semi-Final with the Germans, it is nice to see the worst team to make the Quarter-Finals fluke their way through the remaining teams.

Posted from Australia

By EmreO | June 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm

I believe this article is written in an impolite way. But I guess everyone can learn a lesson from our answer in the field.

This is TURKEY! We Turks never, ever give up! Ever wondered the story behind our national flag?

By Mario | June 21st, 2008 at 4:52 pm

@EmreO:
I admit that it may look somewhat “mean” to put this kinda picture in this thread. Though actually all I wanted to do was to play around with words and in the end simply visualize this interesting homonymy. I believe that you’ve simply approached this text in a more serious and humorless way, one which I tend not to recommend when reading these kind of articles. But if you have interpreted the written part of this article as offensive in any kind of way, please do point out to which part exactly are you referring to. Regards.

Posted from Croatia