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The key is for the Turkish NT to keep momentum, something they have almost never done in the past. The great step forward at Euro 2008 can't be followed up by a step back in this first WC qualifier match.
A match in Armenia will be a good test of the squad's mental toughness...and the specific player to be tested is Kazim Kazim. If he gets all caught up in the activities that are sure to be happening on the way to the stadium, at the hotel, and in the stands, he will fail. And that will tell me he is not mature enough for top class football.
The rest of the squad just needs to stay calm if things aren't going perfectly. Someone like Ayhan is the wrong kind of attitude for this match, and can spark an absolute riot.
On paper the overall talent in the Turkish squad is better than the Armenian squad. It's all a matter of who can play football and block out the rest of the crap that is sure to be flying around this match...
A match in Armenia will be a good test of the squad's mental toughness...and the specific player to be tested is Kazim Kazim. If he gets all caught up in the activities that are sure to be happening on the way to the stadium, at the hotel, and in the stands, he will fail. And that will tell me he is not mature enough for top class football.
The rest of the squad just needs to stay calm if things aren't going perfectly. Someone like Ayhan is the wrong kind of attitude for this match, and can spark an absolute riot.
On paper the overall talent in the Turkish squad is better than the Armenian squad. It's all a matter of who can play football and block out the rest of the crap that is sure to be flying around this match...
