World Cup: Turkey player by player

Turkey have the passing game to trouble Brazil but if tempers are lost the European side will hand the semi final to the World Cup favourites.

GOALKEEPERS

RUSTU RECBER

Unquestionably the best goalkeeper in Turkey, Recber has been a first choice for the national side since the young age of 22. Strong catcher in the air but his outstanding ability is in stopping shots and he has excellent reflexes and skills of anticipation. He can be confident and brilliant and his position as the number one for the national side looks unassailable as he is rarely injured either.

METIN AKTAS

Excellent goalkeeper at club level for Trabzonspor but only third choice for the Turkish team in a position where the Turks have no problems with strength in depth.

OMER CATKIC

Young Gaziantepspor goalkeeper who has yet to play for the national team. Omer is included to learn from the acknowledged number one Rustu Recber.

DEFENDERS

BULENT KORMAZ

Veteran man-marker who can also contribute to more all-round defensive play with good tackling and positional sense. He is no longer first choice in the back line but a very dependable substitute

EMRE ASIK

The first choice right back whose career with the national took a major dip four years ago but now recalled and a contender to take free kicks who crosses well.

UMIT OZAT

Excellent defender whose ball skills should make him one of the best sweepers on show at the finals this summer. Calm and assured, he brings the ball out of defence well to help midfield.

HAKAN UNSAL

He has been troubled by injury all season but produced a strong finish to the domestic season with Galatasary. These latter performances provided coach Gunes with all the evidence he needed to place him in the final 22. A good left back.

FATIH AKYEL

A squad player who can fill positions on the right side of defence. Quick and agile, Fatih developed into a regular international during the 2002 World Cup campaign.

ALPAY FEHMI OZALAN

Regular defender for the national side who look to him to use speed and concentration to cover for any lapses. He is also good in the air and can clear balls well but is not noted for his distribution more for his tackling.

OGUN TEMIZKANOGLU

Born in Germany but there was never any doubt about him playing for the Turkish national side, Ogun is a versatile player who contributes a bit of everything to the national side. A generous player for coach and team mates, he has played in every position in the back line for his clubs. At the top level his astute reading of the game can lead to him patrolling the area as a conventional sweeper but he can also be used as a right back. A willing runner or the cause with a tidy touch.

MIDFIELDERS

YILDIRY BASTURK

A recent introduction into the squad by coach Senol Gunes who has had an excellent season with Bayer Leverkusen. He could be one of the stars for Turkey if they progress and his prompting in midfield and sharper use of clever passes makes the difference when the Turks set their midfield tempo.

HASAN SAS

All-out winger who can be easily discouraged if he fails to beat an opponent in the first few minutes. He lacks consistency but is an excellent wide option for Gunes and he crosses very well. The type of winger who may prove very rare at the finals.

TUGAY KERIMOGLU

Exceptional midfielder who can also be used in defence. All the passing moves come through him but he is not a goal threat for the opposition. Smooth runner with the ball but relies on his passing ability to do most to help the team. Fit and always involved in the play either defending or going forward with two good feet. Lacks height to make much impression in the air.

ABDULLAH ERCAN

A midfielder who can draw wide to good effect and a good crosser of the ball. He tends to always look for the runs or the head of Sukur and has the ability to find both but he is not the fastest mover into space and can be dispossessed. Not strong in the air and a coltish runner but two quick feet when he has the ball and well balanced.

MERT KORKMAZ

A hard tackling midfielder who is part of the squad but an unlikely starter for any match.

MUSTAPHA IZZET

When Ruud Gullit took over as Chelsea coach in 1996 his first decision was to sell this East London born Chelsea fan who had been at the club since his 11th birthday. Leicester City took Izzet on loan and then bought the player after a successful promotion push and he has worked hard to become one of the top midfielders in the Premiership.

Celtic and West Ham want to sign him.

UMIT DAVALA

Umit has helped Galatasary to dominate the Turkish game and has played right across midfield. For the national team he can also feature in many roles as an understudy but coach Senol Gunes uses him in the first choice eleven as a right sided midfielder.

A fast player with or without the ball, Umit has great stamina and tackles well.

EMRE BELEZOGLU

Emre has appeared only fitfully since a move to Inter but he retains the qualities which attracted the Milan club. Quick feet and good passing ability make up for his short stature and he deputises for Tugay in the centre of midfield in the Turkish squad.

OKAN BURUK

He was once hailed as the 'Maradona of Turkey' but such a tag has proved fatal to many young talents and Buruk's career went into an early slump.

The best moment of his young career was helping Turkey to win the under-18 European championships in 1992 but a broken leg suffered a year later at club level put the blocks on his progress. An excellent attacking midfielder has emerged to take the place of the youthful prospect and he survived long spells in the wilderness before recovering his form two years ago. A right sided player with an excellent cross he is now part of the Inter squad although he may move soon.

ERGUN PENBE

Another Galatasary success and part of the squad of players who have spent three years developing into the conquering force of this season under Fatih Terim. Mobile midfielder who can also score goals.

STRIKERS

UMIT KARAN

Umit offers width to the Turkish attack and can add to variety to an attack that tends to look solely at star player Hakan Sukur to provide goals. Fast and agile but he can be dispossessed at times, Umit Karan has a good shot but is unlikely to be a full time member of the first time with the excellent Arif blocking his progress on the right side.

HAKAN SUKUR

A Turkish obsession, Sukur has an outstanding international goal record and is a constant threat. Tough and dominating in the air he is large and can intimidate defenders - he rocked Germany in their famous September win and is fast as well. Failed in Italy with Torino but was around for so short a time in Serie A that he want back for more and has featured on loan this season with Parma.

TAYFUR HAVUTCU

Tayfur is often used on the right side of midfield. He can also play on defence and is very useful to coach Gunes when he plans a squad for tournament football. Such versatility has done little to harm Tayfur's career and he has been involved at international level for the past six years.

ILHAN MANSIZ

Top striker for Besiktas who is starting to establish himself alongside Sukur in a support position the Turks have failed to fill properly at times.