James Anderson's Return To Action Delayed After Washout At Southport
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)
Workplace Occupancy Insights A Preview Into 2024 Trends 768x385 3 Eve Jobs Street Style New York City 02 05 2023 3 F57dc69ad7697865d9c414196b2f8df4 Screen Shot 2022 12 21 At 2.00.00 PM 780x580 Screen Shot 2022 12 15 At 10.56.18 AM 1024x769 9eff887c62306fd3dfb1657223163fa3 Unispace Client 2 Scaled E1670442395429 Coworking Space Trends 2024 1024x683 Cea1043 7ee2 F30a 8880 6d70b5dcff3 Tech Layoffs 2023 2024 1 167144726063a042dc523bb Workloft Bangkok MT HQ 2BedUnit 1 3 Min Scaled Accenture NYC 2021 387 1600x1069 Tetris Db Jll Spain 32006 05 Scaled 1170x380 MA 0331.JPG?w=1600&q=80&fm=webp&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp X=0.5&fp Y=0.5&dm=1669979722&s=f3fe1b5885088763cb71af9e9b3c3e62Dbe5e6b0a1377f88704a1fb4fce9e01f F87ea5a59cc7f54f5cf88de69e6eed1f Capture5 ?auto=compress,format&q=50Image ?url=https Assets.themuse.com Uploaded Companies 1486 About Modules 9681 7a5b1cd5 446d 4de8 85de Ced8d1f41816 V D92a08c3dbdd1880ffd9c1e9bbb7aa65c6e6557fb49f144e4c2f28d75e6b3a05&fmt=jpeg&h=800&mode=crop&pos=top&prog=1&q=90&w=1200Dropbox Photo Credit Chad Davies 870x580 Ci Main 702x459 IMG 6557 Scaled 2 Mobile Greenwall As Room Divider 1536x1024 Desktop Office Experience 2023 AdobeStock 235677925 1024x574 Explore Upcoming Trends For Your Company S Fit Out 2023 Desktop PLALwu4kOMT00N Fb Workplace Design Trends In 2023 1920x800 22 Nov Adapt WR 15 Green Office 1 Untitled Design 2023 01 20T114316.138 Metricon Article 1 733x355 1 ?w=733&h=355&crop=1
James Anderson's Return To Action Delayed After Washout At Southport
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)
