Lions of Africa laugh off Turkish gamesmanship

By James Whelan, Osaka

SENEGAL coach Bruno Metsu says that Turkey are running scared of his team after their coach Senol Gunes criticised the African side for being far too physical in their aerial challenges.

“I think that he is a bit scared of our aerial game. It’s true that we are taller and more strongly built than the Turks”, said Metsu as the war of words between the two coaches raged on before today’s World Cup quarter-final.

“He is just preparing the ground in advance by saying that we commit fouls in the air. It’s a good war of words, I understand, and it’s true that we have plenty of big players.”

Gunes said that he had been studying video footage of Senegal’s undefeated progress through the tournament and that he had been alarmed by the force of their challenges.

“I have reached the conclusion that the Senegalese players use their elbows first in high balls and I wanted to mention that because it is very clear,” Gunes said.

“I accept that football is a hard game but if you have a chance to view their videos you will see that in every single air challenge, it’s elbow first, it’s remarkable,” Gunes said.

The Turkish coach hinted that he hoped Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz would be on the watch for any dangerous challenges which might be made.

“I always tell my players that this is a red card offence,” he said. “If my players did it I would expect the referee to act accordingly and book the offender.”

Senegal are undeniably one of the biggest stories of the World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals under French coach Bruno Metsu in their first appearance in the finals.

Metsu told the Turks not to denigrate his side by discussing which team they would like to play in the last four.

Gunes, however, stuck by his lofty ambitions for the tournament. “Our target is the semi-finals,” he said, where they would play Brazil.

The Turkish coach said he was not underestimating his opponents, whom he called a side with “very few deficiencies”.

“You have to give them their due, they are a very strong team, they are undefeated and they have got where they are with results which they have earned,” Gunes said.

Gunes is sweating over the fitness of two key left-sided players. “As far as injuries go we have Ergun (Penbe) and Hakan (Unsal). We have looked at both of them, they went through fitness tests and we will have more today and review them again,” said Gunes.

Hakan Unsal, who plays at left back, is suffering from knee pains, while Ergun, who has a hamstring problem, plays further forward on the left and replaced the suspended Emre Belozoglu in Turkey’s 1-0 second round win over Japan.

Emre Belozoglu is back from suspension for the Senegal game, and the rest of the Turkish squad has reported fully fit.

Gunes said Senegal had an advantage over Turkey because they had played their second round game, a 2-1 golden goal win over Sweden, two days earlier than the Turks, giving them more time to recover.