| |
| | Friday 20 June, 2008 | | Blog: Cold Turkey | | Turkey’s qualification for the last eight was built on daring attacking play, so – as James Horncastle asks – why do their talented players rarely succeed in Italy? |  |  | | Forget Friday’s opponents Croatia, Turkey are the real surprise package of this summer’s European Championship. Few backed them to get a result against the Czech Republic, especially when they were 2-0 down, but comeback they did, thrilling the crowd with some ruthless finishing that showed Turkey off to be a technically gifted side.
That fact is made all the more stark when one considers that Mehmet Aurelio, the Brazilian-born holding midfielder, looks more Turkish than his teammates who are positively South American going forward. So why aren’t Turkey’s players being targeted by Italy and Europe’s biggest clubs, while Croatia’s are?
Winger Arda Turan, 21, has been one of the tournament’s revelations, scoring two crucial goals to keep his country in Austria and Switzerland. Blessed with an eye for goal and several tricks, why wouldn’t Roma or Inter gamble on him? Italian clubs have dabbled in the Turkish transfer market before, but rarely found a bargain and often had their fingers burnt.
Hakan Sükür, a living Turkish legend, came to Italy in 1995 with a big reputation, having averaged a goal every other game at Galatasary, yet failed to set Serie A alight, scoring just nine goals in 44 appearances for Torino, Inter and Parma.
Emre Belözoglu and his mentor Fatih Terim both looked set to buck the trend, the former winning the 2003 Inter Player of the Year award, the latter earning respect by getting the best out of Manuel Rui Costa at Fiorentina and Milan. Neither made a lasting impression though and fell by the wayside.
All of the Turks mentioned above actually won something in Italy, a Coppa Italia each, but that is unlikely to tip the argument back in their favour and bring them back in fashion. Nor will their experiences tempt any Turks – 18 of Terim’s 23-man squad play in the Turkish League – to fly far from the nest. Need I mention Fenerbahce’s recent Champions League campaign, which ended in the quarter-finals and included a victory over Inter?
The Italians would, after all, rather spend money in Croatia where past investments have paid dividends. Zvonimir Boban won nine major honours with Milan and was unlucky to be surpassed by Alen Boksic who collected 10 winners’ medals at Juventus and Lazio.
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | | |
