THE TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM AND EURO2004

I thought I would have positive things to write today. The Turkish National team played a qualifier with LATVIA in Latvia's capital. In -5 degree weather and under weather conditions which Turkish players rarely play in, we lost the match 1-0. We have a re-match in Istanbul on Wednesday and we need to win that game 2-0 or more to make it into EURO2004. I have faith that we'll  win, but this loss came as a shock to Turkey fans, as we were expecting absolute victory in Latvia.

Our National team is going through major structural changes, and it seems as if things aren't going  too smoothly. Granted we played good  in the group stage of the qualifying campaign, winning all our matches while only conceding a single match to England.

We have excellent players on the team and our creative midfield has always been our strength. However, today we played like a second-rate highschool team, and lost...Tugay, Emre and Nihat didn't play at the level they're capable of. Yildiray's absence was noticeable. Regardless of all that, Turkey is a team 10 times better than Latvia. We have players playing in the top teams and leagues in the world while Latvia's players are virtually unknown, so there's absoloutely no excuse for this loss. Perhaps Senol Gunes should stop experimenting with this team and make up his mind.   One match he plays Tumer, the next match he changes his mind and doesn't even call the guy upto  the NT squad! Hasan Sas and Okan Buruk haven't played decently in ages while Tumer and Ibrahim make a brilliant duo-so why is Senol Gunes playing around with what works? 

Coach Senol Gunes will have to face a furious nation upon arriving back home. The Turkish press will most likely criticize him severely for the unsatisfactory result in Latvia.

LOOKING FORWARD

There are numerous tactical mistakes which Gunes made, but it's not right to pin it all on him. Our players are to blame as well since it seemed as if they didn't even put in an effort! If only Emre and Nihat would have played as good as they play for their club teams, we would've sealed an easy win.

 But regardless, we lost the match. Now I hope we do better in Istanbul. It would be an absoloute shame if a team this good couldn't make it into EURO2004.We need a desperate win in Istanbul to save the face of Turkish football and to make sure we don't step back another 10 years.

Turkeys Midfielders Emre and Okan          Nihat Kahveci, Turkish Striker

Senol Gunes's mistake: Tumer Metin, Besiktas's creative midfielder, should have been included in the starting line-up instead of being subbed in the last 10 minutes.

SERGEN YALCIN

No Besiktas site, blog or conversation is complete if Sergen Yalcin is not mentioned.

He's a magician, a genius, one of the most technically gifted footballers in the world..He's a poet, an artist on the field and everything in between. He's the single player that comes through for the team everytime around, generally with a move which baffles everyone in the stadium including himself!

Yes, he's out of shape. Yes, he could have been one of the most recognized players  in the world, had he spent his time training instead of gambling, drinking and partying.

Regardless of all that, he's 32 years old and leading Besiktas to new heights. Sergens mere existence on the field gives everyone confidence. The Players, the coaches, the fans and everyone trusts this overweight, unconditioned and out of shape player (who resembles a drunk poker player more than a creative footballer) to pull a trick out of his bag at anypoint in the game... And every single time around, he does not dissapoint. He scored 2 against Chelsea and kept Besiktas's CL hopes alive. In the game against Sparta Prague he managed to pass, (with a mind blowingly slick and calm move)  the ball right on target to  Ronaldo's forehead during the last minutes of the game to give Besiktas victory.

He is a walking monument of hope. If all else fails, everyone passes the ball  to Sergen (even the most veteran players). He might be out of shape, he might not be able to run, but he can pass, dribble, shoot and move the ball like no other. When he's playing ball, he is the conducter and the stadium is his symphony. No amount of words can describe this genius, and if you think I'm mistaken, you need to watch his compositions. Every single coach, player, commentator and sports writer in Turkey uses one sentence to describe Sergen Yalcin: "A football genius".. 

Sergen plays football like a game of chess. He makes an unexpected pass at the most unexpected time to the most unexpected player on the pitch. When all is done, everyone looks back and says 'how did he do that?'.

We love you Sergen Yalcin. You are the greatest talent to come out of Turkey in the last 20 years. Too bad you didn't focus on your career and become the next Maradonna of the football world. Too bad you wasted your time (and talent) gambling and drinking. And if despite living such a lifestyle throughout your professional career, you're still able to baffle everyone and lead your team to victory after victory in the Champions League and the Turkish league, you're a living testament that God does create 'naturally gifted' footballers. 

Links to a couple of Sergen Goals:

His goals against Chelsea: GOAL1 and GOAL2 

His brilliant and calm goal pass to Ronaldo during the Sparta Prague game.

His goal in the 2002-2003 season Galatasaray-Besiktas derby to clinch the Turkish title for Besiktas.

BESIKTAS

Welcome to the Besiktas Xanga Blog. I will dedicate this site to the illustrious Black Eagles. As it stands, Besiktas is doing great in the League.

Since the first match of the 2002-2003 season, Besiktas has only lost one game (amazing isn't it!).

Completing the season atop of the league, the Eagles embraced the 2002-2003 Turkish League championship with all their glory. They celebrated a League championship along with the club's 100th year anniversary. In their 101st year as a club, Besiktas is doing great!  This year in the league they're ranked where we're used to seeing them-atop of the Turkish league. The Team maintains it's superhuman record and is giving clear signs of winning the Turkish league championship once again in 2004.

What interests Besiktas fans more than the Turkish league title (which they know Besiktas will most likely win this year once again) is how far the team will advance in the Champions League. They're currently second in their table behind Chelsea and above Lazio with 6 points. To the shock of everyone (except fans who knew how great this team is) they won Abromovich's multi-million dollar Chelsea 2-0 in England. With a win in Rome against Lazio and a tie in Istanbul against Chelsea, Besiktas should make it into the next round of the Champions League Competition.

I'll leave you with a picture of the Longest flag in History (according to the Guiness Book of world records) making way through the streets of Istanbul as Besiktas fans celebrated a long awaited championship last year.