Turkey ‘happy’ to ship four goals to Brazil for $2 million

ISTANBUL

Neymar received a standing ovation by Turkish spectators after scoring his second and Brazil's fourth goal. AA Photo

Turkey’s dramatic loss in a friendly match against five-time World Champions Brazil has triggered a wave of mockery in the Turkish media, with Coach Fatih Terim insisting on looking on the bright side of the home defeat.

The media priced each goal conceded by the Turkish football team at $500,000, a calculation based on the $2 million spent on hosting the Brazilian stars in Istanbul.

Neymar, who scored two goals, received an enthusiastic welcome from the Turkish fans, but media reports did not hesitate to criticize the Turkish players who offered a hand to the Barcelona star instead of teammate Semih Kaya after one particular tackle. Meanwhile Bekir İrtegün, the other Turkish center-back, was greeted by boos and jeers by around 52,000 spectators after a foul on Neymar, media reports highlighted.

Neymar said in a post-game interview that he was surprised to hear Turkish fans chanting his name.
Despite the result, Terim struck an optimistic note, describing hosting Brazil as a “great joy.”

“I am extremely happy that Turkey has faced such a reality … I hope this will become a milestone for us,” he said, pointing at lessons to be learned for future matches.

Turkey is also bidding to arrange a friendly with Brazilian rival Argentina, with Terim saying that playing against such lauded teams was more useful in friendlies.

He also praised his team’s defensive performance “during the first 20 minutes.”

Turkey will play against Kazakhstan on Nov. 16 at Istanbul’s Türk Telekom Arena in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Football’s global governing body, FIFA, also received its share of criticism over the match after its website referred to Volkan Demirel as Süleyman Demirel, a former Turkish president. The site also miswrote Semih Kaya’s name as Suat Kaya, a former Galatasaray midfielder and current coach, before correcting both errors.   

As for the game, in the 19th minute, a flamboyant Neymar’s free kick went over the bar. A minute later he received a pass, and finished from a one-on-one situation with the outside of his right foot to make the score 1-0. Goalkeeper Demirel did not even move on the strike.

In the 24th minute, defender Kaya found his own net after Brazilian full-back Danilo crossed the ball into the center and Brazil’s lead was doubled.

In the 30th minute, Turkish winger Arda Turan of Atletico Madrid lobbed the ball outside the area, and goalkeeper Diego Alves deflected it for a corner.

Near the end of the first half, Neymar darted out on the left side of the Turkey half, dribbled the ball inside the box, and passed it to his teammate Willian, helping score the third goal, 3-0.

In the 54th minute, Brazilian center-back David Luiz smashed a header from a corner kick, but Volkan saved it.

Six minutes later Neymar placed a low shot in the net after a one-two with Willian for Brazil’s fourth goal.

In the 72nd minute, Umut Bulut was close to scoring a consolation goal in the Brazil box, however his close-range shot was denied by Diego Alves.