Sergen bolsters Turkish ranks
Friday, October 3, 2003
Article summary
Sergen Yalçin has returned to Senol Günes's Turkey squad for the crucial qualifier against England.
Article body
Superb display
The Besiktas JK midfield player, who scored both his side's goals in their UEFA Champions League win at Chelsea FC this week, has been recalled by coach Senol Günes. Sergen was named in Günes's squad for the qualifiers against Slovakia and F.Y.R. Macedonia in June, but has not played for his country since 2001.
Returning players
Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfield player Yildiray Bastürk is also back in the fold after recovering from hepatitis B, while other returnees are the Besiktas duo Ilhan Mansiz and Emre Asik. Ilhan's last match was a friendly against the Czech Republic in April.
Pivotal tie
The squad will assemble on Monday to start preparations for the winner-takes-all game in Istanbul. Turkey are a point adrift of England at the top of Group 7, but a win on home soil would secure them automatic qualification for next summer's finals in Portugal. However, a draw or a defeat would see England qualify, with Turkey taking a play-off spot.
Turkey squad
Sergen, Ibrahim, Ilhan, Emre Asik, Fatih Akyel, Tuncay, Bülent, Ergün, Hasan Sas, Hakan Sükür, Gökdeniz, Zafer, Ömer, Deniz Baris, Tugay, Rüstü, Yildiray, Alpay, Emre, Okan, Ümit Davala, Nihat Kahveci, Tayfun.
