On Tuesday, July 2nd, national football team players Kenan Yildiz and Salih Ozcan held a press conference as they begin preparations for the Euro 2024 final 16 match against Austria in Germany.
Salih Ozkan’s statement is as follows:
“A good team is waiting for us in Leipzig”
“It was a difficult group. I’m very happy to finish the first match with a win. I was disappointed against Portugal. I’m very happy to win the last match and to get out of the group for the first time in 16 years. We have a good team. “Austria is a really established team. We need to analyze what was good and what was not good. If we believe in ourselves, we will win the match. “
“It will be difficult without Samet and Hakan.”
“Unfortunately, Hakan Calhanoglu cannot play due to suspension. Sammed is also one of the very important names. Unfortunately, his absence will be difficult for us. I think whoever plays in his place will contribute to the team in the best way.”
“The 6-1 loss is a wound to my heart.”
“I’m looking at each game. We have a game against Austria now, they’re a really good team. Our priority is that game. After that comes the rest. We’re talking about who we’re going to play. Now we need to concentrate,” he said. He has great confidence in his team going into the Austria game. “The wounds from the 6-1 loss are still there. We want to repay everyone.”
“6-1 has to be taken into consideration.”
“I haven’t met my Dortmund teammate, the Austrian Sabitzer, yet. I’ll probably meet him after the match. My message to him is: I’m hurt because of the result we got in the friendly. We need to, and I hope we can get him justice.”
“He has a contract with Dortmund until 2026.”
“I had a short phone call with the coach, Nuri Sahin. He came into the dressing room during the Portugal match and we exchanged greetings. My contract with Dortmund runs until 2026. I feel very secure in that respect, but you never know what will happen in the game. So I’m not really concentrating on football, I’m thinking about the national team.”
Here is what Kenan Yildiz said:
“We’re going to play a very good team.”
“We have managed to get out of the group for the first time in 16 years. Let’s keep it going. We will be playing against very good teams. Frankly, I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about the team. I’m thinking about how to get results and for the team to perform at its best.”
“The coach’s decision is best.”
“Me and Arda did not play against Portugal but it was the manager’s decision. The manager’s decisions are always the best ones. He knows best. I won’t go into these issues too much.”
“We’re living our childhood dreams.”
“Needless to say, it feels amazing to be here. We are fulfilling a childhood dream. The emotions we are experiencing are amazing. Our focus is fully on Austria. We will win this game and then see who our next opponent is. We had a loss against them so it’s a great motivation for us to play them again.”
“When I speak Turkish I make mistakes”
“I’ve never been interviewed in Turkish because I make mistakes. I speak to my teammates in Turkish but they laugh because I make mistakes.”
“I know people are talking about me.”
“The Czechs tried to press very well when they were down to 10 men, so it looked like we had a chance, but we fought until the end. I know everyone is talking about Arda and me, but that’s not the case. We’re thinking about the game, about football and we’re focused on that.”
