FEUSISBERG - Switzerland and Turkey will aim to put the ugly scenes of their last encounter behind them when they meet at Euro 2008 today.
FEUSISBERG - Switzerland and Turkey will aim to put the ugly scenes of their last encounter behind them when they meet at Euro 2008 today.
Media in both countries have been focusing on the violence that followed Switzerland's World Cup qualifying playoff victory in Istanbul in November 2005. But with the teams facing the possibility of an early exit from the tournament after opening game defeats, they have insisted they are concentrating purely on the present.
"Of course, it's not easy to forget what happened in Istanbul, but we are trying not to dwell on it," Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta said on Monday.
"The only similarity to the situation in Istanbul is that both sides need to win so it will be like a final for all of us."
Meanwhile, Group A favourites Portugal or Czech Republic could today become the first team to book a place in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals.
Portugal, who beat Turkey 2-0 in their opening match, and the Czechs, who pipped co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 on Saturday, meet at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva.
l The matches will be televised live by SuperSport. - Reuters
Swiss, Turks forget bad blood
FEUSISBERG - Switzerland and Turkey will aim to put the ugly scenes of their last encounter behind them when they meet at Euro 2008 today.
FEUSISBERG - Switzerland and Turkey will aim to put the ugly scenes of their last encounter behind them when they meet at Euro 2008 today.
Media in both countries have been focusing on the violence that followed Switzerland's World Cup qualifying playoff victory in Istanbul in November 2005. But with the teams facing the possibility of an early exit from the tournament after opening game defeats, they have insisted they are concentrating purely on the present.
"Of course, it's not easy to forget what happened in Istanbul, but we are trying not to dwell on it," Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta said on Monday.
"The only similarity to the situation in Istanbul is that both sides need to win so it will be like a final for all of us."
Meanwhile, Group A favourites Portugal or Czech Republic could today become the first team to book a place in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals.
Portugal, who beat Turkey 2-0 in their opening match, and the Czechs, who pipped co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 on Saturday, meet at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva.
l The matches will be televised live by SuperSport. - Reuters