Turkey

• Nickname:
• Founded:0
• Manager:Guus Hiddink

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Turks consider keeper role

22 Jun 2008 - 16:27:42

Click To Enlarge

Turkey coach Fatih Terim fears he may have to play third-choice goalkeeper Tolgan Zengin as an outfield player in their semi-final against Germany after seeing his squad decimated by injury and suspension.

Terim could be without nine players for their last-four meeting in Basel on Wednesday after losing three more from the side that defeated Croatia on penalties in the quarter-final.

Sanli Tuncay, Arda Turan and Emre Asik all picked up one-game bans during a feisty game in Vienna which Turkey won 3-1 on spot-kicks.

First-choice keeper Volkan Demirel still has one game left of a two-match suspension, while striker Nihat Kahveci is highly likely to miss out with a thigh problem.

Emre Gungor (calf) has already been ruled out of the rest of the tournament, while Servet Cetin (hip), Tumer Metin (groin) and Emre Belozoglu (hamstring) are all struggling to be fit.

"He (Zengin) could come on towards the end as a sub as last man in defence or a centre forward," admitted Terim.

"We can't allow ourselves the luxury of players choosing where they want to play."