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:
“It was a difficult group. I’m very happy to finish with a win in the first match. It was disappointing against Portugal. I’m very happy to have won our last match and to get out of the group for the first time in 16 years.”
“A good team awaits us in Leipzig. We had a bad result against them in the last game. Austria is a really established team. We need to analyze what went well and what went wrong. If we trust in ourselves, we can win this game.”
“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.”
“I’m looking at each game. Right now we have a game against Austria and they’re a really good team. Our priority is that game. After that the rest will come. We’re talking about who we’re going to play. Now we need to be focused on the game against Austria.”
“I have a lot of confidence in my team. We have the quality to eliminate Austria. The 6-1 defeat still hurts me. It left a mark on me. I want to repay everyone.”
“I haven’t met my Dortmund teammate, the Austrian Sabitzer, yet. I’ll probably meet him after the game. My message to him: he is hurting inside because of the result we got in the friendly. We need to settle things with him and hopefully we can do so with a win.”
“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 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.”
“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.”
“Needless to say, it feels amazing to be here. We are fulfilling a childhood dream. The emotions we are experiencing are incredible. Our focus is completely on Austria. We will win this game and then we will look at who the opponent is after that.”
“We lost to them, so being able to play against them again is a big motivation for us.”
“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.”
“The Czechs tried to press very well when they were down to 10 men, so it looked like we had chances, but we fought until the end.”
“I know everyone is talking about Arda and me, but it doesn’t make much difference to us. We think about the game, football and we’re focused on that.”
