Sergen returns for Turkey
Friday, May 30, 2003
Article summary
Besiktas JK midfielder Sergen Yalçin is back in the Turkey squad for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers.
Article body
Besiktas JK midfield player Sergen Yalçin is back in the Turkey squad for their upcoming UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 7 qualifiers against Slovakia and F.Y.R. Macedonia in June.
Instrumental for Besiktas
The left-footed playmaker, who was instrumental in Besiktas' first Turkish Super League success in a decade, is part of a 24-man squad selected for the 7 June game in Slovakia and the home clash against Macedonia four days later. Sergen's last appearance for Turkey came in November 2001, when his side beat Austria 5-0 to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, which he missed due to injury. He has not been in a Turkey squad since February last year.
New faces
Coach Senol Günes, under pressure after a 2-0 defeat by England in their last qualifier and a 4-0 loss against the Czech Republic in a friendly international last month, has also called up two new faces in goalkeeper Murat Sahin and forward Okan Yilmaz. However, Senol is still without Ilhan Mansiz and Hasan Sas, both of whom are sidelined by injury. England top the group standings with ten points from four outings, while Turkey are a point behind in second, with Slovakia third on six.
Turkey squad
Rüstü, Fatih, Ömer, Murat, Sergen, Ibrahim, Ahmet, Bülent, Ergün, Volkan, Deniz, Servet, Alpay, Fatih Tekke, Okan Yilmaz, Tugay, Hakan Sükür, Okan Buruk, Emre, Tayfun, Nihat, Yildiray, Fatih Sonkaya.
