Our national team finished second in EURO 2024 Group F and faced Austria in the remaining 16 matches. Members of the Crescent Stars team, Salih Özkan and Kenan Yıldız, remain in work and made the statement at a press conference.
Kenan Yildiz: Creating Happiness
Of course, I’m happy to leave the group after 16 years. I thought the first match was very important, so I won. I gave it my all in the second match, but I didn’t get the result I wanted. I won the third match and got out of the group, but I hope I can keep going like this.
Austria is a good team
We are going to face a very good team. We know that, and we saw it in the friendlies. They showed it here too. I think about the team, not about myself. If I can contribute to the team in the best way, I want to perform that way.
We are living our childhood dreams
Frankly, I’m very happy to be here. We are living our childhood dreams. The emotions we experience are so great. I was three years old when I left the group the last time. That’s why we want to continue on this path. We want to win this match as well. We had such a defeat against them, but it gives us motivation. We want to win this match and go further.
We know about ARDA
Friendlies have a bit of a different feeling. In these matches, tactical experiments are carried out. We are now preparing in a different way. It’s a very important match and we want to win. We want to make our fans happy. I know everyone is talking about us because of Arda, but we are focused on our football and we want to show our football.
Sally Ozkan: ‘It felt like a final’
It was a good story. It was a difficult group. I thought the first game was one of the most difficult for us. We started with a win. We knew the game against Portugal was also difficult. To be honest, I was a little disappointed there. The last game was like a final. Thankfully, we managed to beat him too. It’s really good to leave the band after 16 years. The tournament is just starting for us.
We didn’t forget the last game.
It will be a very difficult match because a good team is waiting for us. We had a bad result against them in the last match. We have not forgotten about him. The Austrian team is an established team. Therefore, we have to analyze and focus on the match. We need to have a plan. If we believe in ourselves, I think we can win that match too.
Hakan Calhanoglu Comment
Our captain, Hakan Calhanoglu, received a second yellow card. That’s why he can’t play. He is one of the most important names for us. He always shows himself on the field. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for us without him. I hope that the player who plays in his place will do his best and help the team.
If you win, we’ll pay your account
I have a lot of confidence in my team. We have that quality. We have the quality against the team that will play against Austria. To be honest, I have a wound inside me. 6-1 really left a big mark. He said that in this match … he has ambition inside him. I want to answer everyone. That’s how you have to go into the match. I didn’t see Sabitzer. It depends on the situation, but maybe I’ll see him after the match. My message is that I have a wound inside me. He needs to be paid. I want to repay him with a win if possible. It was a friendly against Austria, but the coach tried to do something. Now everyone is at a better level mentally. Everyone wants to win. We’ll treat it as a final.
My head wasn’t tired.
Right now I’m focused on the national team. I want to finish the tournament in the best possible way. I have two more years left on my contract with Dortmund. I’m very comfortable, I feel good. So I didn’t think too much about it. But anything can happen at any time in football. Like I said, I wasn’t too worried.
