Terim wants more from matchwinner

Published on Thursday 12 June 2008 10:58

ARDA TURAN may have saved the day for Turkey but he still has a long way to go to impress coach Fatih Terim.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder struck the winner deep in injury-time to hand the Turks a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in their second Group A game.

The outcome revived Turkey's hopes of reaching the last eight after their 2-0 opening defeat to Portugal, while it knocked tournament co-hosts Switzerland out of the competition.

"Turan is one of my old students at Galatasaray," said Terim.

"When I called him into the national team I had expected him to progress more than he has.

"He is important and very talented but on the other hand, he needs to improve on his endurance in the game."

Terim did praise second-half substitute Semih Senturk whose 57th-minute equaliser had cancelled out Hakan Yakin's first-half opener.

"Semih is an important player," said Terim, whose side will face the Czech Republic on Sunday with a place in the quarter-final up for grabs."Whenever he comes into the game the result is good for us.

"Semih is a scorer, we always expect him to score and he did it very well."

As for Switzerland, they are slowly coming to terms with the elimination from the competition with one game in hand.

Swiss coach Jakob Kuhn felt luck had not been on his team's side throughout the tournament.

They lost captain and all-time leading scorer Alexander Frei to a knee injury in their opening 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic.

Switzerland did have chances to win both games but failed to make the most of their chances and paid the price.

"We have lost two matches in an unfortunate way and it's painful," said Kuhn. "But I cannot blame anyone."

Kuhn, whose side take on unbeaten Portugal on Sunday in their final game, believes he and his players will leave the tournament with their heads held high.

"My players did everything they could and I can only be proud of them," he said.

"I wouldn't change anything I have done."