Turkey coach hails Hakan Calhanoglu’s world-class finishing against Czechs at Euro 2024

HAMBURG – Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella lauded captain Hakan Calhanoglu as the “complete player” after a rocket of a goal helped beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on June 26, firing them into the knockout stage of the European Championship for the first time in 16 years.

The midfielder put Turkey ahead in the 50th minute with a venomous shot into the far corner of the net using the outside of his boot, sparking hysteria in Hamburg among Turkey’s army of fans.

The Czechs – now eliminated – had levelled through Tomas Soucek before Turkey’s Cenk Tosun sealed the win in stoppage time and with it second place in Group F behind Portugal.

Montella said Calhanoglu’s finishing was world class.

“He’s a very complete player. He can play all over midfield,” the former Italy striker said.

“He managed to score an extraordinary goal. If you look at the way he took the shot, there are few players in the world that can take a shot like he does.

“And sending the ball to the far corner using the outside of your foot, he’s an extraordinary player. And he’s an extraordinary man.”

In a thrilling but ill-tempered match, the referee dished out two red cards and 16 yellows, including to Calhanoglu who was booked for unsporting conduct in appealing against the Czech goal.

The 30-year-old is set to miss the round-of-16 match with Austria.

The Czechs were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute when Antonin Barak was given the earliest red card in Euro history, beating the unwanted record set by France’s Eric Abidal in 2008.

Tomas Chory was also shown red after the final whistle in ugly scenes as fans ran onto the pitch.

“These 18 bookings show how intense the match was,” added Montella. “Calhanoglu was just asking the referee for an explanation.

“He’s the captain and that’s his role, he’s allowed to do that. I’m sure he said nothing offensive. That was a bit too strict and we will pay for it dearly.”

Looking ahead, he described Ralf Rangnick’s Austria as being like a club side – physical, fluid and well organised – but said he preferred to focus on what his young players had achieved under the weight of what he called unfair pressure.

“We are always focused and hard-working, we deserve this qualification,” he said.

“We have suffered some criticism that was not deserved, and we overcame that. I’m used to pressure, I don’t mind it, but I don’t like when pressure is put on my players.

“This qualification will allow us to be a little more relaxed, to feel less pressure, to be less emotional.”

The Crescent Stars have made the semi-finals on the last two occasions they reached the knockout phase in major tournaments, remarkably finishing third at the 2002 World Cup and losing to Germany at Euro 2008.

It is a good omen and Montella added that “now, we have new goals”.

“We just want to celebrate and enjoy this victory (over the Czechs) because we deserved it, but starting tomorrow, we want to keep on making history.

“That’s for sure,” he said. REUTERS, AFP