Ümit excited by EURO challenge
Monday, January 15, 2007
Article summary
Former AC Milan midfielder Ümit Davala now plays futsal for Turkey and believes they can make an impact when their EURO campaign begins this week.
Article body
Despite defeat in the first four matches in their futsal history, Turkey are hoping to make an impact when they enter the UEFA European Futsal Championship preliminary round this week and are captained by a man with plenty of experience in the eleven-a-side game, Ümit Davala.
Making history
Their debut matches in December at the National Football Academy in Bucharest saw Turkey go down 7-3 and 6-2 to Romania although the manner of their performance against a more developed futsal nation was encouraging. Coincidentally, Romania also provided the opposition when the Turkish football team made their international debut on 26 October 1923. Then on 26-27 December they travelled to Baku for two games against Azerbaijan, losing 4-2 and 5-2.
'New team'
Turkey are preparing for their maiden assault on the UEFA European Futsal Championship and will play in preliminary round Group A in Finland between 18-21 January, with Albania and Armenia also involved. The 33-year-old Ümit, whose hugely successful career as a midfielder included spells at Galatasaray SK, AC Milan and Werder Bremen, is confident Turkey can prove themselves in the small-sided game. "Futsal does not have anywhere near the amount of media exposure as football," the 2002 FIFA World Cup bronze medallist said. "But this will be a big event and we are proud to be competing as a new team. We have called up some players who have played futsal at European clubs, in addition to some exciting young talents."
Challenges ahead
Coach Ömer Kaner, the former Fenerbahçe SK and Eskişehirspor striker, is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. He said: "Futsal is a new form of football in our country, though it is very popular in other European countries. Our opponents in the preliminary round have had futsal leagues going for seven years and so they are obviously more experienced than us. But we will work hard and close the gap. Our first target is to advance into the second phase of qualifiers in Italy, then we aim to get to Portugal for the finals."