Turkey

Turkey finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Since then they have endured a near constant state of flux. An unsettled atmosphere, prevailed through UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying also. Nevertheless, they reached their first finals in six years and coach Fatih Terim will attempt to find some amount of stability.

On top of the agenda will be settling on a goal keeper. Rüstü Reçber was the first choice during the qualifiers. But then he was injured and that gave a chance to Volkan Demirel. However his loss of form brought in Hakan Arikan.

Nonetheless Volkan is expected to be the one Coach Terim is finally going to rely on. Even that doesn't settle the issues. Who are going to help him defend the goalpost? Towering centre-back duo Servet Çetin and Gökhan Zan provide height and presence, but no pace, while Ibrahim Toraman and Emre Asik are potential replacements to reinforce a back line that conceded four goals from throw-ins in qualification.

Gökhan Gönül, 23, the right-back has been a revelation over the last 12 months, a possible solution to a problem position for the Coach. The other flank is more unsettled. Ibrahim Üzülmez's form has dipped over recent campaigns. It may mean that Hakan Balta and Volkan Yaman may be there in the starting line-up. Even Hamit Altintop has been fielded at full-back, yet he appears to have found a natural home in midfield, where his competitiveness and Mehmet Aurélio's industry are two things Terim can rely upon.

Injuries too have been plaguing the team. Yildiray Bastürk, Fatih Tekke and Nihat Kahveci have all suffered serious injuries in the last 18 months - Nihat gave a glimpse of what had been missing with two key goals late in qualifying. Hakan Sükür, Tuncay Sanli, Gökhan Ünal, Ümit Karan, Semih Sentürk and Mehmet Yildiz are other options in attack. Wingers Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Arda Turan and Tümer Metin bring pace and guile to a midfield which can lack incisiveness, although Terim is prone to deploy narrow 4-3-1-2, 4-1-3-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 formations.

Turkey Euro Squad