Turks without Nihat

France banks on experience in semifinals

PARIS (Reuters) -- France coach Jacques Santini will rely on experience when the European champions face Turkey in the Confederations Cup semifinals on Thursday.

Turkey eliminated world champions Brazil in the biggest upset of the tournament's first round, and a home defeat would put the French back in the doldrums a year after their dismal World Cup campaign.

"You need victories to build up a team," Santini told a news conference on Wednesday.

"With the knock-out round this is a new tournament which is starting on Thursday," he said. "The experience of certain guys can be crucial in this kind of match."

Reaching the final must be the hosts' minimum aim as they continue their preparations for next year's European championship in Portugal.

Santini is without a number of influential first-choice players, including midfielders Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele.

Santini put his faith in young players during the first round, but will pick his most experienced side for the rest of the tournament.

Turkey, who finished third in last year's World Cup, ripped Brazil's defense to shreds in the second half of Monday's 2-2 draw in St Etienne, and Santini is aware of the threat of young striker Tuncay Sanli.

France will probably start with a solid 4-4-2 formation, William Gallas partnering captain Marcel Desailly in central defense flanked by Lilian Thuram and Bixente Lizarazu.

Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires will share midfield creative responsibilities, with the improving Benoit Pedretti and reliable Olivier Dacourt taking care of the defensive duties.

Thierry Henry is sure to lead the attack, possibly partnered by Sidney Govou, who scored the winning goal in the side's 2-1 victory over Japan, instead of Djibril Cisse.

Santini thinks Turkey will take extra motivation from their performance against Brazil, but believes his side are peaking at the right time.

"We carefully planned our preparation for this semifinal," said Santini. "Those who needed rest were given some and we are now in a great shape."

Sociedad striker Nihat won't join Turkey

MARCOUSSIS, France (Reuters) -- Turkey's hopes of striker Nihat Kahveci joining the squad for their Confederations Cup semifinal against France have been dashed by injury.

Turkey coach Senol Gunes had wanted the Real Sociedad striker to link up with his squad after the Spanish league ended last weekend.

"Nihat will not be joining us," Gunes said on Wednesday. "He picked up a slight thigh injury in his last match with Real Sociedad and has gone back to Istanbul."

Nihat finished as the Spanish first division's joint second highest scorer, level with Ronaldo on 23 goals, as Sociedad were pipped to the title by Real Madrid.

Earlier this month, Nihat helped Turkey's qualifying campaign for Euro 2004 by scoring in their 3-2 victory over Macedonia, four days after hitting the winner in a 1-0 win over Slovakia.

Turkey returned to the top of Group Seven, two points ahead of England, who have played a game less.

Counting on Nihat to join the squad if Turkey reached the latter stages of the tournament, Gunes allocated him the number 11 shirt.

Despite the absence, Gunes was confident of his side producing a good performance against the holders at the Stade de France.

"This semifinal is a real test for us," he said at the team's training base outside Paris.

"We know the power of French football and the players they have produced. They play a very disciplined game and they have a good squad."

But he added: "Come Thursday, we'll do our duty. There are no big or small teams left in this tournament and all four who have got through to the semifinals deserve to be there."

Gunes also hoped their fans from France's sizeable Turkish community would also do their duty and behave on Thursday.

A handful of supporters were able to make a very brief appearance on the pitch during Turkey's 2-2 draw with Brazil in St Etienne on Monday.

"The supporters must not come onto the pitch during the match," Gunes said. "They can come and embrace us after the game -- but they mustn't come on while we are playing."

High mileage

Turkey's much-traveled campaign in the eight-nation tournament has taken them to St Etienne, Paris, back to St Etienne and then once more back to Paris.

"We're tired because we've done a lot of traveling and I regret the fact that we are only allowed to use three substitutes," he said. "It does make things more difficult.

"But the tiredness will disappear if we beat France."

The winners will take on either Cameroon or Colombia, who meet in Thursday's other semifinal in Lyon, in the final at the Stade de France on Sunday.

 

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