Mandıralı backs Turkey to follow EURO heroes

Crowd appeal
Mandıralı has called on Turkish fans to get behind his charges when they take on Belarus in Antalya in the first leg of their play-off for a place in next summer's tournament in Sweden. "We want the crowd to lift the players in the same way that the team lift the supporters with their performance," he said. "It is a mutual thing. The fans are an important part of the game and a key instrument in the success of any team."

Absentees
Turkey go into the first instalment of the double-header – which concludes in Borisov on 14 October – as Group 2 winners, having registered six victories and a draw in eight qualifiers. But Mandıralı does not have a full complement of players. Reading FC midfielder Jem Paul Karacan (knee ligaments) and Beşiktaş JK winger Serdar Özkan (hamstring) are out, while four more players who are eligible for U21 duty are instead with the seniors for their latest FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Into the squad comes İstanbul BB SK midfielder Mahmut Tekdemir. The coach is unfazed, however. "We are in excellent shape for these two huge games, morale is sky high," he said, adding: "Our aim is to reach the finals and try to repeat what Turkey achieved at the EURO."

Happy travellers
Standing in their way are an equally ambitious Belarussian side led by Yuri Kurnenin. The absences through injury of defender Oleg Veretilo and midfielders Siarhei Balanovich and Filip Rudzik are covered by Hamburger SV midfielder Anton Putilo and FC Dinamo Minsk's Andrei Chukhlei who drop down from the full national team. Although Belarus finished second in Group 8 behind Serbia, their coach gives them an even chance against Friday's hosts. "There are no weak teams at this stage because only the strongest got through qualifying – and that includes Turkey who won a formidable group with Ukraine and Czech Republic," Kurnenin said. "Yet it is good that we play the first leg away from home. In Antalya we will get a better look at our opponents. We can play it simple, try to obtain a result, then play a more attacking game at home. Turkey should be in good condition but we are too."