International Friendlies - Belarus v Turkey
On the road to Euro 2008, Turkey has to play an early away match @ Belarus. Turkey has a very poor performance in their international friendly’s. Especially in away fixtures. This match will be played in Belarus, where conditions of the pitch and weather will effect the game and the teams. Will this be another poor Friendly?
Belarus is doing well they have won 4 of their last 5 fixtures, including a strong performance against the Netherlands wich they won (2-1). This former Soviet country has grown in football. However the Belarus side will be missing some players. Sergei Omelyanchuk and Aliaksandr Kulchiy are the main absentees they have to stay in Russia . Butt they will be playing with Arsenal’s Hleb and Bursaspor’s Romachenko. Belarus will playing in a 4-4-2 formation to hold off the Turks.
Turkey has a poor record in friendly’s. Butt they are visiting Belarus with a very strong side. Coach Terim called up a squad of 30 players. Their strength lies upfront, with players in form like Nihat Kahveci and Tuncay Sanli. The coach demanded 100% from the Turkish players, as he starts to make crucial squad decisions towards Euro 2008. Turkish players should be motivated in this match. This is a match without any pressure for the squad in general , butt with positive pressure for the Turkish players, they must show Fatih Terim that they are worthy of going to Euro 2008. And hope that their coach will select them to go to Euro 2008.
Turkey has not impressed me at all in their qualification campaign. In the and it was the individual quality of a few who made the difference in to qualifying for Euro 2008. Turkey will without any doubt control the ball in midfield. And their ability to score is just pathetic. These guys just can’t create chances. Belarus will miss players, and therefore I expect them to play defensive, whilst Turkey usually don’t know what to with the ball inside the six yard box. Not to mention that the weather and pitch will be affecting the game. Plus the fact that the Turkish coach will be rotating with a lot of players. Although the odds for a under are low, that does not take the strong smell of an under in this pick. I predict a 0-0 or a 0-1 score.




































