Turks eager for qualifier with England

Coach urges patience, but promises victory and Euro 2004 berth

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey coach Senol Gunes on Friday urged his team's fans to remain calm ahead of next month's Euro 2004 qualifier against England and said he was confident Turkey would win and automatically qualify for next year's finals.

Tensions have been building between the English and Turkish football associations after Turkish Football Federation President Haluk Ulusoy slammed England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for warning fans it was unsafe for them to travel to Istanbul for the Oct. 11 Group 7 game that will determine the group winner.

Gunes assured Turkish fans his team was well-prepared for the match.

"I am not saying, 'We may win' or 'We have to win.' I am saying, 'We will win.'  We will defeat England," Gunes told reporters. "We have to remain sensible and patient. Our fans should know that our team will not embarrass them. Our team is ready to make them happy. The only thing we expect from fans is for them to come to the game and support their team."

The English FA refused its ticket allocation for the Oct. 11 match in Istanbul amid fears of fan violence, which could see England kicked out of international soccer. It also refused tickets for last weekend's match against Macedonia, which England won 2-1.

In April 2000, two Leeds fans were stabbed to death while in Istanbul to attend a UEFA Cup match. Fans also clashed before the UEFA Cup final when Galatasaray beat Arsenal a month later.

Gunes said he would not get involved in any bickering with the English FA.

"My name will never be involved in such disputes," said Gunes. "My players and I will never take our football outside the stadium. And we will receive English fans with Turkish hospitality."

Eriksson warned fans earlier this week to stay away from the Turkey match.

Crowd trouble marred England's 2-0 Euro 2004 qualifier win over Turkey in Sunderland in April. English fans clashed with police before the game, booed the Turkish national anthem, chanted racist slogans and ran onto the field to celebrate both goals.