Turkish defender, Alpay Ozalan, who was sent off in his side’s controversial first match with Brazil at the World Cup, is determined to make amends when the two sides meet again in Wednesday’s semi-final here.
Alpay, who plays in England for Aston Villa, got his marching orders for pulling Luizao’s shirt in the incident, which earned Brazil a match-winning penalty in the 86th minute.
Television replays showed that the foul took place outside the box and the match ended in further controversy when Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo helped get Hakan Unsal sent off by pretending he had been hit in the face when the Turkish player kicked the ball at his legs.
”I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if the referee had been fair to both teams we would have won that match,” Alpay said on Monday.
The centre-back said he had no problem with his own sending-off for a second yellow card offence.
”But the whole world could see that Hakan’s was not a red card and that the referee should not have given a penalty.”
Alpay said he would be going out on Wednesday to prove a point to the Brazilians.
”This is a much more important game for me. Maybe that red card has had a significant effect because I’m feeling ready for action against Brazil this time.
”I just can’t wait for the game.”
Alpay said all the Turkish players had been infuriated by Rivaldo’s playacting, which cost him a $7 000 fine and other sanction from Fifa.
”Those actions were needless and I think we will take action accordingly in this game.”
Alpay is one of the Turkish players carrying a yellow card, meaning that he will miss the final or the third/fourth playoff if he is booked again.
But he said he would not be holding back in his efforts to contain Brazil striker Ronaldo.
”We will not be thinking about that (suspension). I want Turkey to play in the final. That is our goal. If I have to get another yellow card to get the team there, then I will do it.”
Striker Hasan Sas said the Turks had shown they were good enough to match Brazil.
”We are not intimidated,” he said.
”We know they are a great side with talented individuals but we also have some great individual talents.
”It will be the team who plays better on the day that will make the final.”
Sas said the Turkish squad was determined to provide the country with a boost as it grapples with economic hardship.
”We know that we have already made our people very happy and we want to the reach the final and help them to forget about all their problems,” he said.
The Turks will again be without defender Hakan Unsal, who missed the quarter final against Senegal with a knee injury which is still troubling him.
They will otherwise be at full strength although captain, Hakan Sukur, is still suffering from a thigh strain he has been carrying throughout the tournament.
There has been speculations that Sukur could be dropped after he squandered a string of chances against Senegal. – Sapa-AFP