Turkey need emphatic win

Turkey face World Cup debutants China today needing an emphatic win and a helping hand from Brazil if the Turks are to have any chance of qualifying.

The Chinese, already out of the competition, have only their dignity to lose, but they will be looking for a strong showing to give their fans something to cheer about as they head home.

The Turks are expected to field an extra striker in their final Group C game, which takes place at the same time as the Brazil-Costa Rica clash.

"Costa Rica are in a stronger position than us but we have to beat China and then wait for the result of their game," Turkey coach Senol Gunes said.

Costa Rica will go through unless they lose to Brazil and Turkey beat China by enough goals to overcome the Costa Ricans' superior goal difference.

The Chinese, meanwhile, are hoping to retain a shred of national pride by achieving at least one of their three official targets of one goal, one win and one draw.

They lost 2-0 to Costa Rica in their opening game and 4-0 to Brazil before Costa Rica drew with Turkey and eliminated them, to the disappointment of up to 30,000 Chinese fans who are in South Korea.

China have been criticised for their conservative tactics and poor finishing, but they showed flashes of potential in the Brazil game and were unlucky not to score a goal.

Coach Bora Milutinovic has said they could beat Turkey if they play as they did against the four-time world champions.

"This game is much more important than before," he said. "For us it is very important to finish well. This is our goal."

Gunes looks set to play a second forward in support of Hakan Sukur, who has appeared isolated in the last two matches and has drifted in and out of play.

Besiktas forward Ilhan Mansiz, top scorer in the Turkish league last season, is the most likely candidate to partner Sukur although Arif Erdem is another option.

Gunes will also welcome the return from suspension of defender Alpay Ozalan and left-winger Hakan Unsal.

He may opt for a three-man defence with Unsal and Fatih Akyel ready to pull back on the wings to take over defensive duties.

Probable teams...

Turkey: Rustu; Ozat, Alpay, Akyel; Tugay, Emre, Basturk, Unsal, Sas; Sukur, Mansiz.

China: Jin; Wei, Weifeng, Chengying, Yunlong; Xiaopeng, Hong, Tie, Junzhe, Mingyu; Haidong.

Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia).

On TV: Live on Channel 12, 8.30 a.m. Delayed: RAI Uno, 11 a.m.