Football: Turkey's 'stars' absent again for Ukraine

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

As Turkey prepares for its second World Cup qualifier following poor performances during Euro 2016, coach Fatih Terim’s decision to drop key players has dominated the local media.

Turkey hosts Ukraine in the central Anatolian city of Konya on Thursday night and the continued exclusion of Barcelona’s Arda Turan has caused consternation among Turkish football fans.

Since Turkey were dumped out of the European Championships in the group stages, they have faced Croatia in their first qualifier last month, earning a 1-1 draw.

As well as Turan, Terim also choose not to select Beijing Guoan striker Burak Yilmaz and Galatasaray midfielder Selcuk Inan -- considered by many to be among the leading lights of the national squad -- for both the Croatia and Ukraine games.

His selection decisions have widely attributed to his disillusionment with some of the side’s “stars” following their performance on the European stage.

“The national team is open to players who are dedicated and willing to carry the team, an apology should be made to our people,” Terim said when his choice of line-up was questioned following the Croatia game.

His comments prompted Turan, who has been in rich form for Barcelona this season with five goals and four assists in 10 games, to complain about Terim’s public comments.

“It is wrong that the manager openly says things like we should apologize to our people,” he told broadcaster NTV. “We should have discussed these issues face-to-face.”

As well as Turan, Yilmaz and Inan, Turkey will be without Besiktas’ right-back Gokhan Gonul and midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup due to injuries.

Despite the set-backs, Turkey is looking to add to its record of four wins, a loss and a draw against Ukraine.

The Group I match at Konya Buyuksehir Torku Arena is due to kick off at 9.45 p.m. local time (1845GMT) on Thursday.

- Group I standings:

TEAMS P W D L GF GA +/- Pts

KOSOVO 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

ICELAND 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

TURKEY 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

CROATIA 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

FINLAND 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

UKRAINE 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1