Turkey have called up veteran striker Hakan Sukur for Wednesday's friendly against Italy despite speculation after his last appearance that he would retire.
Coach Fatih Terim named a 24-man squad for the match in Bergamo, also recalling Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu who has missed one game through suspension.
Ankaragucu goalkeeper Serkan Kirintili received his first call-up to the national squad.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Rustu Recber (Fenerbahce), Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce), Serkan Kirintili (Ankaragucu)
Defenders: Can Arat (Fenerbahce), Gokhan Zan (Besiktas), Ibrahim Toraman (Besiktas), Ibrahim Uzulmez (Besiktas), Servet Cetin (Sivasspor), Hamit Altintop (Schalke 04)
Midfielders: Mehmet Aurelio (Fenerbahce), Tumer Metin (Fenerbahce), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Sabri Sarioglu (Galatasaray), Mehmet Topuz (Kayserispor), Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Trabzonspor), Huseyin Cimsir (Trabzonspor), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund), Emre Belozoglu (Newcastle United), Caner Erkin (Vestel Manisaspor)
Forwards: Tuncay Sanli (Fenerbahce), Hakan Sukur (Galatasaray), Fatih Tekke (Zenit St Petersburg), Halil Altintop (Schalke 04), Serhat Akin (Anderlecht)
04 October 2006
Bulgaria's Wigan Athletic striker Svetoslav Todorov and Litex Lovech defender Rosen Kirilov have pulled out of Bulgaria's upcoming UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers because of injuries. The 28-year-old Todorov is suffering from a muscle strain while Kirilov is still recovering from the injury he picked up in the domestic league match with Lokomotiv Sofia on 23 September.
Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has already lost Red Star Belgrade midfielder Blagoi Georgiev, who pulled out of the squad on Monday because of a thigh muscle strain. Stoichkov said he would not call up a replacements for the injured trio, however, relying on the 20 remaining players.
Bulgaria have made a solid start to their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Romania and a 3-0 home win over Slovenia. The Netherlands top Group G with six points from two games, followed by Bulgaria and Romania on four points, Albania and Belarus on one and Luxembourg and Slovenia with none.
Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has named Dimitar Berbatov in his 23-man squad for the UEFA EURO 2008 Group G qualifiers at home against the Netherlands on 7 October and away to Luxembourg on 11 October. The 25-year-old Tottenham Hotspur striker Berbatov is still recovering from a groin injury and has not played since Bulgaria's opener against Romania on 2 September when he needed a pain-killing injection to stay just over an hour on the field.
Berbatov, who joined Spurs for £10.9 million ($20.3 million) from Bayer Leverkusen during the close season, is doubtful for his team's clash with Portsmouth on Sunday. "Dimitar is having a test and if that goes okay we will assess his chances before Sunday's game," Tottenham manager Martin Jol was quoted by club's website. Bulgaria have made a solid start to their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Romania and a 3-0 home win over Slovenia.
Bulgaria left-back Ivaylo Petkov is returning to his homeland after failing to win a contract with Celtic. The 30-year-old with 64 caps failed to impress manager Gordon Strachan after a two-day trial in Glasgow.
Petkov, out of contract after leaving Turkish club Ankaragucu, was considered short of match fitness and unable to meet Celtic's immediate needs. Celtic have been using right-back Mark Wilson on the other flank after Mo Camara fell out of favour.
Camara has failed to make the position his own after arriving from Burnley last summer. And fellow left-back Charlie Mulgrew, who has a successful loan spell with Dundee United last season, has been told to find a new club.
07 August 2006
Gordon Strachan has revealed Ivalyo Petkov will arrive in Scotland with a view to signing for Celtic. Petkov is out of contract after leaving Turkish side Ankaragucu.
And Strachan said: "He will be here tonight (Sunday) and he will stay with us for a wee while. I don't like to use the word trial, but he will be here and we can look at him and he can look at us. We know that he can play, it's whether it is suitable for him and ourselves."
