Soccer: Turkey determined not to rest on their laurels

SEOUL - Turkey, determined not to rest on their laurels, are promising to play better now they have reached the soccer World Cup's second round for the first time.

The Turks may also have to stop depending on creative midfielder Hasan Sas, who scored two of their five first-round goals and provided passes for two more.

"Right now we have qualified from the group stage. In the knockout stage we want to progress," coach Senol Gunes said.

"But surely we will play better football than we have during the group stage," he said after Turkey beat China 3-0 in their final group C match.

Convincing as that scoreline looked, it disguised the fact that World Cup debutants China came extremely close to scoring their first World Cup goal several times against Turkey, whose next opponents, Japan, Russia or Belgium, are unlikely to be so wasteful.

The Turks, however, were pleased with their performance against China.

"We played very well for the first time. I think we've succeeded in doing something we deserved before," midfielder Hakan Unsal said.

Turkey will be without midfielder Emre Belozoglu and defender Emre Asik, who have both picked up two yellow cards, in their next match.

Emre Belozoglu scored their only goal against Costa Rica, but it is his midfield partner Hasan Sas who drives the Turks.

Though right-footed, Hasan's raids down the left with Hakan Unsal have created some of the team's best chances, and he often seems the only Turkish player with a real urgency to push forward.

"Hasan is a real quality player. We used to play together at Galatasaray and since we know each other well, we link well," Hakan Unsal said.

The bald Hasan's goal tally is putting main striker Hakan Sukur, close to setting a record for Turkish caps, in the shade.

Hakan Sukur, starved of service as the lone striker, has not scored in three games, but Turkey need him to find his best form if they are to make further progress in the tournament starting with a second-round match against Japan, Belgium, Russia or Tunisia on Tuesday.

- REUTERS

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