Turkey starts its European Football Championship qualifying campaign with a match against Kazakhstan on Friday.
The national football team will try to make its way to EURO 2012, four years after reaching glorious heights in the championship co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.
On the road to the 2012 edition of European football’s biggest competition on the international level, Dutch coach Guus Hiddink will be leading Turkey.
Famous for his successful spells with the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia and Russia, Hiddink is one of the most highly regarded coaches in international football and has the tough task of carrying Turkey to the continental cup after a dismal campaign in the FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Turkey finished a disappointing third in its elimination group behind eventual world champion Spain and surprising Bosnia and Herzegovina, after dropping unexpected points against Belgium and Estonia in addition to the top two.
That flop, following a semifinal appearance at EURO 2008, led to the resignation of coach Fatih Terim.
Hiddink became free for the Turkey job after his previous team, Russia, followed a similar path over the last two years; despite losing to eventual champions Spain in the 2008 semifinals, Russia failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Hiddink was brought to the Turkish helm, replacing Terim, earlier this year. He joined Turkey on the national team’s United States tour in May, which was more like a preparatory round than a proper debut for the Dutchman. The 64-year-old was in charge during Turkey’s 2-0 win over Romania last month, which went down in the books as Hiddink’s first official match as Turkey coach.
Now Hiddink’s Turkey team starts the qualifying groups of EURO 2012, which will be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, with a test against the Central Asian minnows.
Apart from Kazakhstan, Turkey will play against World Cup bronze medalist Germany, Belgium, Austria and Azerbaijan in Group A of the qualifiers.
With only a limited time to shape up the squad, Hiddink mostly picked the team’s usual players going into his competitive debut for Turkey.
Players in almost every position are the same group that was taken to Switzerland and Austria, while only two players from defending Spor Toto Super League champion Bursaspor were called up. Fifteen of the 25 players are from Istanbul’s big three, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, the traditional providers of players to the squad.
Hiddink is expected to make changes in the squad over time, but he was not only brought to the helm to change personnel, as he is expected to be the architect of Turkey’s football future.
Speaking to the Turkish Football Federation website, Hiddink demonstrated that he was aware of what he has been asked to do.
“I am examining what is good and what needs to be improved,” said Hiddink. “I don’t think players here are lacking in technique, but there is a tempo problem. They have the strength but their athletic abilities are limited.
“Turkish players are really good with the ball but they are not in the right condition to execute their moves fast. We need to improve in that department to form an explosive, fluid style of play.
“That is not only a physical change. That is a mental change as well. We need courage and we need vision. It is not an easy task. I see that. But it is not impossible.”
Apparently, Hiddink will need time to shape up his squad and lead Turkish footballers to be able to play an attacking and dominant style of play. Friday’s match against Kazakhstan and the second group match against Belgium on Wednesday will be two early signs of what is ahead for the country’s football.
The game at the Astana Arena will be played at 7 p.m. Turkish time.
