Talking Turkey

Host France motivated for Confederations Cup semifinals

Security to be increased PARIS (Reuters) -- Security will be increased for Thursday's Confederations Cup semifinal between France and Turkey at the Stade de France after Turkish fans invaded the pitch during the match against Brazil on Monday. Several Turkish fans climbed over the fences at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium and went on to the pitch during the 2-2 draw. They also hurled objects on to the field and broke seats in the stands. "The fences in front of the tribunes are going to be raised again to stop the pitch being invaded by the fans," said Jacques Thibault, the official in charge of security at the Paris stadium. "A meeting about this matter was held this morning and the number of police officers drafted for the game is going to be increased bu we don't have any figure yet. "We don't know how many Turkish fans will come to the stadium for the match but we can expect they will be much more than the last time [against Cameroon]," he said. "These measures are to be taken after what happened in St Etienne on Monday." In October 2001, a match between France and Algeria in Paris was stopped after dozens of Algerian fans invaded the ground while France were leading 4-1 10 minutes from time.

CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) -- Near the end of a tournament that has drained many squads and players, a reinvigorated French team was as fit and motivated as ever to take on Turkey in Thursday's Confederations Cup semifinal.

At Tuesday's training session, star striker Thierry Henry, team captain Marcel Desailly and other French players were bitterly disputing calls in a scrimmage, flinging their arms and shaking their heads. And that was just practice.

There were no complaints about fatigue or about the much-maligned tournament coming at the end of a long season. There was no mention of the absence of stars such as Zinedine Zidane or David Trezeguet.

"If they're arguing about the referee's calls during training, it means they're motivated," said France's coach Jacques Santini. "They're taking this very seriously. They're ready."

The French had better be prepared for the Turks, who eliminated five-time world champion Brazil on Monday to clinch a semifinal berth.

Despite going undefeated in the group phase, France struggled early on in the tournament, lacking stamina and inspiration in the searing heat that has hit the two-week contest.

Without playmaker Zidane, midfielders Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele and striker David Trezeguet, the French were far from their best, laboring to beat Japan 2-1 and Colombia 1-0, both times relying on disputed penalty calls. Everything came together in an easy 5-0 victory over a substandard New Zealand team.

Following their win over the Kiwis on Sunday, the French will have benefited from three full off days before their semifinal on Thursday night.

"These days are good for us," Henry said. "On a physical level, we feel much better. The first two matches against Japan and Colombia were hard for us. It was tough to hang in there physically. Against New Zealand we didn't need to force the machinery much, plus it was hot so it was difficult to evaluate our form.

"Now we've had time to recuperate, to improve our physical form. We're ready for the semifinal."

Santini, who said his staff was analyzing videos of Turkey's recent matches, refused to give any hint of his starting lineup.

"There are still 48 hours before the match," he said. "There are things we still need to see."

Santini, missing many of his key players, has been working at incorporating several new young faces into the national selection and creating a solid team atmosphere.

"We are creating strong bonds. The team has confidence in itself, the coach said.

"The older, more experienced players are guiding the young, new ones. It is important, particularly in a situation like this where, unlike league play, one match and you are knocked out. It's over."

No pity for Brazil CLAIREFONTAINE, France (Reuters) -- France had no sympathy for Brazil on Tuesday after the world champions were eliminated from the Confederations Cup by Turkey. France had expected to face Brazil in the semifinal at the Stade de France in a repeat of the 1998 World Cup final. But Turkey held Carlos Alberto Parreira's under-strength team to a 2-2 draw in their Group B match on Monday to take second place and reach the last four. "Everybody was waiting for a match against Brazil, but we honestly don't care," France captain Marcel Desailly told a news conference ahead of Thursday's semifinal. "We're going to take on the Turks and it's going to be a great match." Striker Thierry Henry added: "We're not going to feel sorry for Brazil. They're five-time world champions. They're still a great side. "They came here without many of their best players. So they don't have to worry. It's not a good result for them but we have bad times too and we are still here." France, who are aiming to retain the Confederations Cup they won two years ago, said the elimination of the Brazilians does not make their task easier. "A match against Brazil could have brought more people to the stadium but we must not underestimate Turkey. They qualified and it means something," said midfielder Olivier Dacourt. "Of course it would have been a rematch of the 1998 final [against Brazil] but we're not going to complain." Turkey established their credentials in world football when they came third at the 2002 World Cup finals and their progress here shows that performance was no fluke. "Turkey showed great ambitions in this tournament," said France coach Jacques Santini. He acknowledged the Turks had played three tough matches in their group, but added "...ousting Brazil is the kind of feat that gives you extra motivation. And a strong will can help you forget that you are tired." France are aware of the dangers posed by Senol Gunes' Turkey side and will be on their guard for any counter-attacks. "They have gifted young players and they are very solid in defense," Desailly said. "They are well organised and they can carry the ball forward very swiftly. "It's going to be a good challenge for us -- as good as the one we would have faced against the Brazilians."

The hosts will once again be boosted by the presence of Fabien Barthez, who had left the squad for a few days for the birth of his first child Lenny.

The team was also encouraged by a congratulatory phone call from Zidane, after his club Real Madrid won its 29th Spanish league title Sunday, Santini said.

Thuram wary of Nihat threat

CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) -- Veteran French defender Lilian Thuram looked nervous when reminded of a possible late arrival at a Paris airport Tuesday.

When informed Turkey's Real Sociedad striker Nihat Kahveci could be touching down in Paris to join up with his teammates for Thursday's semifinal, Thuram joked:

"We must block him at the airport then."

Nihat scored 23 league goals this season, as Sociedad narrowly missed out on the Spanish title -- won by Real Madrid last weekend.

If he joins the squad at this late stage, Nihat will be raring to go when Turkey plays France at Stade de France for a place in Sunday's final.

That is precisely what worries Thuram, who is set to win his 88th cap for Les Bleus.

"He is a player to watch out for," the Juventus player said. "If he's just finished playing for his club and is coming here with 23 goals, then he will be in top form."

On Tuesday however, Turkish team officials said they were still unsure if Nihat would show.

Thuram is an admirer of Turkish soccer, and says the national side is a rising star on the international scene.

He likes the people too, having visited the country several times when playing for previous clubs Monaco and Parma.

"People told me it was a dangerous place, be careful," he said. "But I never had any problems. Everyone was very welcoming and pleasant."

Since making his France debut in 1994, Thuram has been a mainstay of the team's defense alongside captain Marcel Desailly and left-back Bixente Lizarazu.

While Desailly plans to retire after next year's European Championships -- France is close to assuring qualification -- Thuram, 31, has no designs on hanging up his boots just yet.

"Maybe in 2014," he said, smiling.

"I don't fix dates," he added. "The day I stop will be when I no longer feel I belong at the highest level. Until then ... "

He seems as fit as ever. Although he admits some players were reluctant to play in the Confederations Cup following a long season at club level, he is quick to refute any talk of physical exhaustion and hardship.

"It's true that some teams didn't bring all their big players, so the level of play will be a little lower," he said.

"It's also not easy to pick up straight away after holidays and then play every two days.

"But you can't honestly say being a professional footballer is a sacrifice, can you? It's a pleasure.

If you're not happy doing this, then you won't make it very far in the game."

France hosts Turkey because it finished top of Group A, winning all three matches -- while Turkey placed second in Group B ahead of Brazil to set up a clash before a packed national stadium Thursday.

When asked if he'd be intimidated by Turkey's physical, aggressive style of play, Thuram rolled his eyes and let slip a small grin.

"Well, it should be good fun then, shouldn't it?"

Nihat still unsure about joining Turks

MARCOUSSIS, France (AP) -- It was still unsure Tuesday whether Real Sociedad striker Nihat Kahveci will join the Turkish team for its Confederations Cup semifinal against France, team officials said.

The striker had been expected to join the Turkish side Tuesday following the end of the Spanish league season last weekend.

But team spokesman Selami Ozdemis said the team still had to speak to the Spanish club.

"He hasn't arrived yet and we don't know if he will," Ozdemis said. "We still haven't spoken to his coach to know if he can come.

"Maybe he will come, maybe not."

An answer was expected late Tuesday evening.

The tired Turks could certainly use the help of Nihat, second with Real Madrid's Ronaldo in the Spanish top scorer's list with 23 goals, six behind leader Roy Makaay of Deportivo de La Coruna.

The Turks, who are eager to show their third place at the World Cup was no fluke, expended themselves in a do-or-die match against Brazil on Monday night, eliminating the five-time world champions from Group B with a 2-2 draw.

The team also has to move from Saint Etienne to Paris for the second time this tournament and will have a day less than France to rest for the semifinal.

Real Sociedad finished the season in second place, two points behind Real Madrid, which won its 29th Spanish league title Sunday after defeating Athletic de Bilbao 3-1 in the final round.

"He's a good player," said French star Thierry Henry. "He would be a real advantage for the Turkish team.

"He takes the ball, accelerates, finds space in front of the net, he's a good dribbler."

Turkey sparkles again on world stage

ST ETIENNE, France (Reuters) -- Turkey's elimination of world champions Brazil from the Confederations Cup represents another milestone in their country's progress to the very top level of the game.

In a match between two second-string sides, Turkey ripped Brazil's defense to shreds in the second half of Monday's 2-2 draw to line up a semifinal with France in Paris.

The performance by a team with several players from the under-21 ranks indicated both that Turkey have strength in depth and that last year's unexpected place in the World Cup semifinals, where they lost to the Brazilians, was no fluke.

Turkish football has been building up a head of steam since Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup in 2000.

The Istanbul club also reached the Champions League quarterfinals the following season -- losing 5-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid after beating the Spanish giants 3-2 at home.

Barthez is back CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) -- Fabien Barthez was back at training with the French team Tuesday, returning from a short break to attend the birth of his first child. The Manchester United goalkeeper had left the French squad Friday after the second Confederations Cup game which qualified the host for the semifinals against the Turks to be with his pregnant wife. "He arrived late last night and has resumed life with the team," said coach Jacques Santini. "It was good news for Fabien, good news for one of us on the team and it raised the morale of the troops." There is speculation whether Barthez will be focused enough to play such a key match, but Santini, who has been elusive about his starting lineup against Turkey, dismissed the idea. "He's not the first player of international level to have a baby," Santini said. "He is happy, he knows his wife and child are well. It may give him extra drive, it may not necessarily destabilize or affect his concentration." Fellow French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who is also a father, agreed. "He can be operative two days following the birth of his child," Coupet insisted. "He knows everyone is well and they are doing fine. "It could in fact give him wings," he said, adding that Barthez spoke with tenderness about his young son. One of the heroes on France's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning teams, Barthez left last year's World Cup highly criticized, along with the rest of the squad, after the nation became the first defending champion to go out in the first round since Brazil in 1966.

At international level, Turkey have followed up their third-place finish at the 2002 World Cup with top slot in Euro 2004 qualifying Group Seven by two points -- albeit after playing a game more than second-placed England.

At the Confederations Cup, coach Senol Gunes is clearly building for the future, blooding the likes of impressive under-21 striker Tuncay Sanli, who celebrated his senior debut by scoring the winner in last week's 2-1 victory over the United States.

Unfortunate to go down to a stoppage-time penalty in their 1-0 defeat by Cameroon, Monday's stirring second half performance at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard was also a warning that France would do well to heed.

"If we play against France the same way we did in the second half, I don't see why we can't get to the final," playmaker Yildiray Basturk told reporters afterwards.

"We have a lot of Turkish people in France and I think there will be a 50-50 [crowd]."

Gunes is also looking forward to meeting the tournament hosts on Thursday -- his only regret being that it was not, as he had originally hoped, in the final on June 29.

Seeking to lower the expectations which have shot skywards both at home and amongst France's sizeable Turkish community, Gunes said: "We wanted to test young players here.

"Winning or losing is not important, what counts is seeing the new players coming through."

Back home, the Turkish press have greeted their team's triumph with predictable joy.

"The victory samba: Turkey lets Brazil off but reaches the semifinals of the Mini World Cup," said the daily Hurriyet.

Sabah newspaper labeled Gunes' team "the dream kids," while soccer daily Fanatik carried a photograph of "The team who sent the world champions home."

Despite the current euphoria, the aspirations will not be easy to satisfy on Thursday.

The French will certainly go into their next game as favorites. But whatever the outcome at the Stade de France, Turkey have once again proved they are a force in the world game.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.