Turkey’s Calhanoglu Hailed as Complete Player After Match-Winning GoalTurkey’s Calhanoglu Hailed as Complete Player After Match-Winning Goal Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella praised captain Hakan Calhanoglu as an exceptional player after his stunning goal helped the team defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Wednesday. This victory secured Turkey’s place in the European Championship knockout stages for the first time in 16 years. Calhanoglu scored the opening goal for Turkey in the 50th minute with a powerful shot using the outside of his boot, sending the Turkish fans into a frenzy. The Czechs equalized through Tomas Soucek, but Turkey regained the lead through Cenk Tosun’s injury-time goal. Montella lauded Calhanoglu’s world-class finishing ability and versatility in midfield. “He’s a very complete player,” Montella said. “He can play anywhere in midfield, and he managed to score an extraordinary goal.” Despite the tense nature of the match, Montella expressed concern about the excessive number of bookings, including Calhanoglu’s yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. Calhanoglu will miss the round of 16 match against Austria as a result. “These 18 bookings show how intense the match was,” Montella said. “Calhanoglu simply asked for an explanation, which is his role as captain. I’m sure he didn’t say anything offensive. That was a bit too strict.” Montella described Austria, Turkey’s next opponent, as a well-organized and physical team similar to a club side. However, he emphasized his focus on the achievements of his young players under significant pressure. “This qualification will allow us to be a little more relaxed, feel less pressure, and be less emotional,” he said. “Tonight we just want to celebrate this victory and enjoy it, because we deserved it… from tomorrow we want to continue making history.”
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella and his players celebrate after the REUTERS/Lisi Niesner match
(Reuters) – Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella hailed captain Hakan Calhanoglu as the complete player after a rocket of a goal helped his side beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the European Championship knockout stages for the first time in 16. years.
Calhanoglu put Turkey ahead in the 50th minute with a venomous shot fired with the outside of his boot into the far corner of the net, sending the Turkish army of fans into hysterics in Hamburg.
The Czechs – now out – had leveled through Tomas Soucek before Turkey’s Cenk Tosun sealed victory and second place in Group F behind Portugal when he skipped around the defense before firing an injury-time shot into the net.
Montella said Calhanoglu’s finishing was world class.
“He’s a very complete player. He can play anywhere in midfield,” he said.
“He managed to score an extraordinary goal. If you look at the way he shot, there are few players in the world who can shoot like him.”
“And sending the ball to the far corner with the outside of your foot, he’s an extraordinary player. And he’s an extraordinary man.”
In a tense but ill-tempered match, the referee handed out two red cards and 16 yellow cards, including to Calhanoglu, who was shown a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct in an appeal against the Czech goal.
He will miss the round of 16 match against Austria.
“These 18 bookings show how intense the match was,” Montella said.
“Calhanoglu simply asked the referee for an explanation,” he said. “He’s the captain. That’s his role. He’s allowed to do that. I’m sure he didn’t say anything offensive. That was a bit too strict. And we will pay a high price for that.”
He described the next opponent, Austria, as a club team: physical, flexible and well organised. However, he said he would rather focus on what his young players had achieved under what he called immense and unfair pressure.
“This qualification will allow us to be a little more relaxed, feel less pressure and be less emotional,” he said.
“Tonight we just want to celebrate this victory and enjoy it, because we deserved it… from tomorrow we want to continue making history. That’s for sure.”
