Gunes: Love-in awaiting Turks at home

Updated: Saturday June 29, 2002 10:48 a.m. ET

DAEGU, South Korea (AP) -- Turkish coach Senol Gunes is expecting a love-in when his team returns home after beating South Korea 3-2 in Saturday's third-place match in the World Cup.

"My team gave Turks hope and happiness," Gunes said. "It's going to be the meeting of two lovers tomorrow."

It was that kind of World Cup for the Turks.

Playing in its first World Cup in 48 years -- and only their second in history -- Turkey made a run to the semifinals before falling to four-time champion Brazil 1-0.

Brazil also beat Turkey 2-1 in the first round -- the only team to beat the country in seven World Cup matches.

"Nothing happens by chance," Gunes said. "We got beat twice by Brazil. That's why we didn't win the World Cup. We even played two host countries and beat them."

He was referring to Saturday's victory over South Korea and a win in the round of 16 over co-host Japan 1-0.

"We always said we came with pride and we will return with pride," Gunes added. "We wanted to go as far as possible. We were dreaming of winning the cup. We are sorry we couldn't win."

Asked if he saw the opening goal, which Hakan Sukur scored after only 11 seconds -- a World Cup record -- Gunes smiled.

"For Turkey we are always doing the first of everything. We scored the fastest goal and this great South Korean side gave up three goals for the first time in this tournament."

Turkish striker Ilhan Mansiz called the third-place finish "something we didn't expect, something extraordinary. Hakan (Sukur) was really playing well. Everybody could see we were really getting along together as a team."