Şengezer re-nominated
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The Turkish national goalkeeper Berke Özer left the camp of coach Vincenzo Montella’s team without permission following the clear victory in the World Cup qualification against Bulgaria (6:1). The reason for this was obviously the frustration that the 25-year-old was repeatedly not even allowed to sit on the bench. The Turkish association reacted with clear words in a statement – and nominated Muhammed Şengezer from Başakşehir in the provisional squad for the game against Georgia (Tuesday, 8:45 p.m.).
Lille keeper Özer, who is valued at €8 million according to the French Ligue 1 market value update, played for Turkey for the first time in the summer tests against the USA and Mexico. At the World Cup qualifiers in September, Galatasaray’s Uğurcan Çakır was again between the posts, with Besiktas’ Mert Günok acting as his representative. The fact that Özer left the national team after the game against Bulgaria without prior consultation was anything but well received by the association.
“As has been emphasized several times, the responsibility and value of wearing the national jersey surpasses everything else. Our national team is a unit that represents the honor of the country, regardless of individuals. Discipline, respect and team spirit are our most important principles that we will never abandon,” said the TFF in a statement on its website and continued: “At a time when we selflessly want to qualify for the “We strive for the World Cup – a long-awaited goal for many years – and reach its peak in unity and solidarity within the team, such behavior is unacceptable.”
The association announced that Şengezer would be brought in for Özer. Turkey is three points ahead of Georgia in Group E and is second behind Spain. Montella’s team suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat against the Spaniards in September, which made the goal-rich win against Bulgaria on Saturday evening all the more important.
Here Transfermarkt explains the mode of World Cup qualification in Europe and the path to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
“Our biggest dream is to qualify for the World Cup. We haven’t done it for many years,” Montella said after the game, adding: “No matter what happens, we will not give up our dream of the World Cup and our ambition to get there.”