Goal.com, Switzerland
Sept 5 2008

WCQ Preview: Armenia – Turkey

What: World Cup 2010 Qualifier, Group 5
Who: Turkey vs Armenia
When: Saturday 7 September 2008, 21:00 local time
Where: Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan
Referee: Tom Henning Ã`vrebø (NOR)

Turkey and Armenia are more often mentioned together as part of a
political or historical discussion, but on Saturday evening all eyes
will be on the football pitch as the two continent-straddling nations
meet in Yerevan…

Expectations Raised

After reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008, Turkish football is back
on the kind of high not experienced since the 2002 World Cup. With
this jubiliation, though, comes pressure.

Coach Fatih Terim’s side have now undone the underachievement of the
past six years and once again marked themselves out as continental
contenders; as such World Cup qualification is an absolute must.

Still, with 13 slots up for grabs for UEFA instead of the 16 at the
Euros, Turkey could find it harder to progress, not least when one
looks at their group. European champions Spain are odds-on favourites
to take the sole automatic place in Poland and Ukraine in 2010, while
a resurgent Belgium are not to be underestimated.

Even if the Crescent-Stars do edge out the Red Devils, Bosnia et
al. to second place, they still must contest a playoff, assuming that
their record is even good enough to get them there.

It’s a tough group, to be sure, but one feels that the fans, now
accustomed to success, won’t accept a hard luck story should the Turks
fail to progress.

Armenian Aspirations

Armenia, meanwhile, finished second last in their Euro 2008 qualifying
group; needless to say they thus failed to reach Austria/Switzerland.

It was also a fairly ignominious campaign for the Ararat: their
closing matches, both against Azerbaijan, were cancelled due to the
two countries’ having a territorial dispute that disrputed sporting
matters. (As is so often the case, politics and football collide in
this part of the world.)

Still, the players and coach haven’t let themselves grow distracted by
such concerns as they enjoy a fantastic current record. Coach Jan
Poulsen, appointed in January, has lost just one game so far; first
his side strode to second place in the Malta International Cup at
Ta’Qali before managing three friendlies without defeat, including a
credible draw with Greece in the Netherlands.

As such there is newfound optimism among this historic republic that
they can begin to make waves in global football, and a home game
against a local rival gives fine opportunity to do so.

FORM GUIDE

Armenia

01 Jun 08 Greece (N) DREW 0-0 (Friendly)
28 May 08 Moldova (A) DREW 2-2 (Friendly)
26 Mar 08 Kazakhstan (N) WON 1-0 (Friendly)
06 Feb 08 Iceland (N) LOST 2-0 (Ta’Qali Cup)
04 Feb 08 Belarus (N) WON 2-1 (Ta’Qali Cup)
02 Feb 08 Malta (A) WON 2-1 (Ta’Qali Cup)

Turkey

20 Aug 08 Chile (H) WON 1-0 (Friendly)
25 Jun 08 Germany (N) LOST 3-2 (EC)
20 Jun 08 Croatia (N) DREW 1-1 (WON 3-1 pens.) (EC)
15 Jun 08 Czech Rep. (N) WON 3-2 (EC)
11 Jun 08 Switzerland (A) WON 2-1 (EC)
07 Jun 08 Portugal (N) LOST 2-0 (EC)

TEAM NEWS

Armenia

Yegishe Melikyan of Banants Yerevan is out, but coach Poulsen
otherwise has a full squad to pick from.

Possible XI: Berezovsky; Hovsepyan, Arzumanyan, Dokhoyan, Tadevosyan;
Aleksanyan/Melkonyan, Voskanyan, Karamyan, Mkhitaryan; Hakobyan,
Manucharyan/Pachajuyan.

Turkey

Nihat Kahveci is out injured, as is Hamit Altıntop. Tumer Metin will
also sit this one out, while long-serving goalkeeper Rustu Recber has
hung up his international gloves once and for all. While the
Crescent-Stars will look to start with all three points, some fringe
players may get a chance to impress, particularly off the bench. Hamit
Altintop is out, while Nihat Kahveci and Tumer Metin are also
sidelined with injury. Emre Asik is absent, while Rustu Recber has
hung up his international gloves once and for all. Fatih Tekke, Umit
Ozat, and Umit Karan have all been dropped.

Turkey often switch between a 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-2; with the status of
favourites behind them they may put two up front here.

Possible Starting XI: Volkan Demirel; Kas, Gokhan Zan, Servet Cetin,
Ugur Boral; Mehmet Topal, Mehmet Aurelio, Belozoglu, Tuncay Sanli;
Semih Senturk, Halil Altintop.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Armenia – Roman Berezovsky: Goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky of Russian
outfit Khimki is no stranger to international or continental action,
having served Russian giants Zenit, Torpedo Moscow and Dynamo Moscow
with distinction. A noted penalty saver, his team’s hopes largely lie
with him. Additionally, Ara Hakobyan is fast approaching the accolade
of top goalscorer for the Armenians, having hit 7 strikes in 40 games
so far. Four more and he’ll equal Arthur Petrosyan’s record.

Turkey – Semih Semturk: Without the injured Nihat, Turkey look a
little short on striking options. However Semih, despite being
something of a late bloomer at international level, has a fine ratio
of four goals in ten appearances, indicating hope that the 25-year-old
can see the Crescent-Stars through. Also watch Volkan Demirel, who
now has the number one shirt to himself after Recber’s retirement.

PREDICTION

While Armenia are proving tough to break down of late, Turkey have
sufficient firepower to edge a win.

Armenia 0-1 Turkey

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com

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