Turks vow to press Swiss
SOCCER Sensitive keeper can’t take taunts Aussies hoping to quench Cup thirst
Turkey coach Fatih Terim said his team would not shy away from gambling tactics in the second leg of its World Cup playoff against Switzerland. Terim then admitted it would be tough to overcome the deficit if the Swiss score first.
Switzerland, unbeaten in 14 consecutive games, heads into today’s match at Istanbul with a two- goal advantage after beating the Turks 2- 0 in the first leg on Saturday.
“ We’re not going to be afraid of taking risks. Certainly we’re going to press, but we’re aware that if we eat a goal, this is going to be a job left to miracles,” Terim said yesterday. “ We’ll take risks at any second, but the smarter we do it, the better.”
Turkey, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup, has struggled recently and failed to qualify for last year’s European Championship.
In other matches, Spain goes to Slovakia with a 5-1 lead ( GolTV, 2: 15 p. m.). The Czechs are up 1- 0 and at home to Norway. Australia is in Sydney trailing Uruguay 1- 0 ( GolTV, 4 a. m.) and Bahrain is home after a 1- 1 tie at Trinidad and Tobago ( Fox Sports World Canada, 11 a. m.). The survivors today will fill the final five places in the 32- team World Cup tournament next summer in Germany. The Turks believe they were treated badly in Switzerland by fans who blew whistles during the Turkish national anthem and by critical Swiss media. Monday, 24-year- old goalkeeper Volkan Demirel called a news conference with the team psychologist. It was devoted solely to Volkan’s mental state. Team psychologist Acar Baltas said Volkan was forced to rethink his purpose in life after insults from the press, the fans and the opposing coach.
“ I see this event as affecting his value system, his view of the world,” Baltas said. “Volkan asked why we’re doing sports. . . . Why are we living?” Terim also spent much of his time dealing with issues other than soccer. “ One of the Swiss players swore at me and showed me the finger and when he says he didn’t do it, everyone believes him,” Terim said, referring to a run- in with Switzerland striker Alex Frei. Two key Turks, Emre Belozoglu and Hamit Altintop, will return to the lineup after sitting out suspensions.
Australia hasn’t been in the World Cup since 1974 and this might be the Socceroos’ best chance in a decade. Uruguay is without injured striker Diego Forlan, sidelined by a leg injury.
Looking for every advantage, Australia flew home on a charter equipped with massage and video facilities, two doctors and a physiotherapist. Uruguay flew a charter to Chile and then took commercial flights to Sydney.
Spain has almost reached its eighth consecutive World Cup.
“ We’ll have the problem of the cold and the state of the field, but I’m convinced we can win,” said Spain’s Luis Aragones, unbeaten in 17 matches as coach. “ Slovakia is a good team. But when Spain does things right it’s a powerful team.”
Spain will be without suspended midfielder David Albelda.
Slovakia coach Dusan Galis will have to watch the game from the stands after receiving a red card in Madrid. WORLD CUP BID:
England might bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The British government and the English Football Association have been in talks about a bid and British media reports said yesterday that government officials had decided to back it. The FA said it won’t make a decision until late next year. England was host of the World Cup in 1966 and won the title.