Turkey Vs. Czech Republic Match Preview

Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel insists his side are favourites to progress from Group A at the expense of the Czech Republic tomorrow.

The game to decide who joins Portugal in the quarter-finals will be settled by a penalty shoot-out should the scores stay level after 120 minutes, as both sides are level on points, goal difference and goals scored in the runners-up spot.

UEFA regulations state if two teams meet in a final group match in such circumstances and draw, the tie should be determined by a penalty competition.


Volkan, who saved three spot-kicks in Fenerbahce's Champions League win over Sevilla this season, is ready for more heroics but believes the Turks can triumph without having to resort to penalties.

'If the game goes to penalties, I will do my best,' he said, while adding: 'I am sure we will go through without needing a shoot-out.

'The back four and I will have a tough task because the Czechs are a tall outfit, but our defenders play better against that sort of opposition.

'Our nation, our people, should believe in us because we have the capability.'

Despite having a goalkeeper regarded as one of the best in the world in Petr Cech, the noises coming out of the Czech camp were not so confident regarding a shoot-out.

Czechoslovakia enjoyed their biggest success on the European stage thanks to penalties, when Antonin Panenka struck the winner in the final against West Germany in 1976.

But Libor Sionko, who scored the Czechs' potentially vital goal against Portugal, insists he is not ready to follow in Panenka's footsteps.

'There's only one Panenka, and I don't think I'm the second one,' he said.

'If you play well and you're in good shape, then you take a penalty. If you miss a lot of balls and don't feel good mentally, then you don't.'

Czech coach Karel Bruckner has a full squad to choose from for the game, and will have to decide whether to stick with the 4-2-3-1 system he played against Portugal with Baros leading the line or revert to the 4-5-1 used against Switzerland.

Bruckner's Turkish counterpart, Fatih Terim, does not have such luxuries, with first-choice central midfield duo Tumer Metin and captain Emre Belozoglu out injured.

Ayhan Akman, Emre Gungor and Gokdeniz Karadeniz all missed training yesterday, while Servet Cetin is still having problems with a knee injury.