Fatih Terim has no fear of mighty Spain
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 25, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Even 'the world's best football team' tag is not intimidating Turkish national football team coach Fatih Terim, who believes that his side can pull off 'sensational' results against reigning European champion Spain. Terim says that Turkey will take risks to cause an upset
Preparing his team for two games against the world’s best football team, Turkish national football team coach Fatih Terim is confident about his side’s chances.
Turkey will play against Spain, which is at the top of FIFA World Rankings, on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before two teams meet in Istanbul next Wednesday in two games in the World Cup Qualifying Groups.
The reigning European champion, marked by an almost two-year unbeaten streak, may be intimidating, but Terim is not one to concede defeat.
"Spain’s form is obvious. Their quality is undisputable," Terim told the Turkish television channel NTV. "But we have to turn this into an opportunity." "Nobody would criticize us if we lose, but if you win, that is news," he said. "My players should be after creating sensational news."
Beating Spain in Madrid would be more than sensational, and apparently, Terim wants his boys to take risks to achieve that on Saturday night, instead of settling for a draw.
"I am telling my players to aim for success, not for perfection," said Terim. "I urge them not to give up on their right to make mistakes. We will not be afraid of making mistakes. That is how you can learn new things and achieve new things."
While playing against a Spanish team that is full of world-class players, Terim said, leaving no space will be crucial. "It will be a highly tactical game," Terim said. "This is simple: If you let the Spanish team have space, they will play. We will try to keep them at the furthest possible position from our goal line."
Comfortable position
Leading the World Cup Qualification Group 5 with 12 points in four games, Spain is in a comfortable position, but coach Vicente Del Bosque is wary of Turkey as well.
Speaking to the Spanish television channel Veo7, Del Bosque praised the Turkish side.
"Turkish football is in a great progress," he said. "The players are devoted to their team like soldiers, and they are tough."
Spain will be without Barcelona players Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol against Turkey, and Del Bosque admitted that his side might miss them. "I hope we don’t miss them a lot, but we may when we are against a solid and dangerous team like Turkey," he said.
Turkey will play against Spain, which is at the top of FIFA World Rankings, on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before two teams meet in Istanbul next Wednesday in two games in the World Cup Qualifying Groups.
The reigning European champion, marked by an almost two-year unbeaten streak, may be intimidating, but Terim is not one to concede defeat.
"Spain’s form is obvious. Their quality is undisputable," Terim told the Turkish television channel NTV. "But we have to turn this into an opportunity." "Nobody would criticize us if we lose, but if you win, that is news," he said. "My players should be after creating sensational news."
Beating Spain in Madrid would be more than sensational, and apparently, Terim wants his boys to take risks to achieve that on Saturday night, instead of settling for a draw.
"I am telling my players to aim for success, not for perfection," said Terim. "I urge them not to give up on their right to make mistakes. We will not be afraid of making mistakes. That is how you can learn new things and achieve new things."
While playing against a Spanish team that is full of world-class players, Terim said, leaving no space will be crucial. "It will be a highly tactical game," Terim said. "This is simple: If you let the Spanish team have space, they will play. We will try to keep them at the furthest possible position from our goal line."
Comfortable position
Leading the World Cup Qualification Group 5 with 12 points in four games, Spain is in a comfortable position, but coach Vicente Del Bosque is wary of Turkey as well.
Speaking to the Spanish television channel Veo7, Del Bosque praised the Turkish side.
"Turkish football is in a great progress," he said. "The players are devoted to their team like soldiers, and they are tough."
Spain will be without Barcelona players Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol against Turkey, and Del Bosque admitted that his side might miss them. "I hope we don’t miss them a lot, but we may when we are against a solid and dangerous team like Turkey," he said.