NHL Trade Grades: Did Capitals Make The Right Move In Dealing For Chychrun?
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)
Maxresdefault What Is A 501c3 1 Pexels Artem Podrez 6779716 ?w=1920WorkLifeNonprofit 501C ?media Id=100068473254344Irs 501c3 Form 1023 1b33d71cba3ba4b1 Thumb Og Cover 804x1024 SNZSKAQTS92O6RyLWKHcWhat Is The Purpose Of A 501c3 1024x576 022323 W9 1.PNG?format=1000wSuccessful Nonprofit Organizations 1536x1022 O 1g22ms9qq120f13ra1fdc1ecm18etm ?width=15003430e7f22d8239ef6a841ea2edaafe7b Word Image 18 F3676c8d1f6382fdc0fe178153852554 Maxresdefault Starting 501c3 Nonprofit E191d1b4241c63d20004987d7372050c B6e276bed50f54677e40687a9978c609 New Design 2022 JanFebMarApr Blog Images 3 1 1024x576 1577976090494?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=8om2XEY4EAkpfVUxv2X UPCRGqSypnjdzQMfsi3R1Ek62e0eb04fab9e34d085048d0 Gray Family Foundation Bylaws 501c3 Application3 700x500 501c3 Form Example 501c3 Application 1024x768 633634197 Nonprofit 501c3 Social Maxresdefault Tax Benefits Of A 501c3 Scaled Foundation Group 501c3 Cta 4c1a052f5e004d5a7bd7584520073b7b 501C3 Non Profit Big 86c629acb4883e14ccf520cadc40bc9c ?w=774&is Pending Load=1#038;ssl=1