Fener, Super Lig Takes a Break for Turkiye vs. Greece

The Turkcell Super Lig takes a week off following week 25, as the Turkish national team travels to Greece to take on their rivals in a Euro 2008 qualifier this Saturday. Both Turkiye and Greece sit atop the Group C standings with nine points each. Norway trails them with six points, followed by Bosnia-Herzegovina, Malta, Hungary, and Moldova. Neither Turkiye nor Greece has allowed a goal in their three games. Turkiye has scored eight goals in three games, while Greece has six.

Turkiye has many questions going into the game, with starting goalkeeper Rustu Recber still sidelined from his injury in the game vs. Italy, and now Volkan Demirel being benched by Zico for Fenerbahce. Arda Turan of Galatasaray will also miss the game due to a thigh injury suffered in GS's game on Friday.

Turkiye coach Fatih Terim has also included three players without an international cap for Saturday's squad. Gaziantepspor full-back Bekir İrtegün, Rizespor left-winger Ferdi Elmas and Sivasspor striker Mehmet Yıldız are all in contention for a first cap, while 33-year-old Galatasaray SK defender Emre Aşık is back in the squad having last played against Latvia in November 2003 in the play-off that ended Turkiye's UEFA EURO 2004 hopes. Terim has opted to omit Hertha BSC Berlin midfielder Yıldıray Baştürk and injured Villarreal CF forward Nihat Kahveci.

Turkiye will travel to Frankfurt, Germany four days later on March 28th for another game vs. Norway. Full lineups for the match have yet to be announced.