Stefan Kuntz has led Turkey to second place in WM qualifying He opened up about his feelings to kicker the morning after.
“With Italy and Portugal, there are a couple of big hitters in the mix, “ Kuntz remarked after the decisive 2-1 win in Montenegro and warned: “You should be cautiously optimistic at most. “ And yet he described reaching the World Cup play-offs as a “total success”. Quite rightly so.
With zero points, the disappointing Turks were eliminated in the preliminary round of the European Championship in June, and after a 1:6 loss to the Netherlands in September, they were threatened with missing the Winter World Cup in Qatar. Then Kuntz took over, two points behind the second-placed Norwegians, against whom they drew on their debut. “Nobody thought about the play-offs beforehand,” the former striker, who played for Besiktas in 1995/96, reveals to kicker.
Away in the semi-finals
The play-offs are only half the battle on the way to the World Cup, and the Turks, as a team from pot 2, could already meet a “cracker” in the semi-finals – away. But a development is already discernible. “Something has already grown together in this time. The team spirit has improved and the first effects of our game idea can be seen,” said Kuntz, who says he still has “an extremely lot of work” ahead of him.
Until the 59-year-old can better assess the situation after the draw on 26 November, no personnel decision will be made. Specifically, it concerns goalkeeping coach Michael Rechner, who is on loan from Hoffenheim for October and November and whose future with the Turkish national team remains open. “Fortunately, we now have a bit of time and don’t have to plan any friendlies for March,” says Kuntz, looking forward to the next steps in development. After all, there is extremely much to do.
