Eindhoven, June 14: Sweden and Turkey will face a Euro 2000 abyss when they meet in a Group B match here on Thursday, in a match which would mean near certain elimination from the tournament for the loser.Sweden fell 2-1 to hosts Belgium in their opener and Turkey went down by the same score to Italy fuming over a harsh penalty decision which cost them the match.Filippo Inzaghi's spot-kick after 70 minutes proved decisive although his fall under a challenge from Ogun Temizkenoglu to win the penalty was at best theatrical.Relaxed Sweden have been training at their Oisterwijk headquarters to the north of Eindhoven in contrast to secretive Turkey who evicted journalists from the Arnhem Stadium where they were training.Charm may not be Turkey's watchword but few doubt their quality, summed up by Hakan Sukur who has gone to Inter Milan after winning the UEFA Cup with Galatasaray.Sweden's Kennet Andersson said on Monday that Sukur, with 53 caps and 26 goals to his name, was clearly dangerous.The 28-year-old classic centre forward, known as The Bull of the Bosphorous, can shoot with both feet and was top scorer in Turkey in 1997 (28 goals), 1998 (32) and 1999 (19).Andersson, a man of few words and not given to criticising or praise, said: ``Sukur had a great season with Galatasaray, who won the UEFA Cup, and he could be dangerous.''Ironically Sukur bore the brunt of the criticism in Turkey's poor Euro 96 display when they lost their group matches to Croatia, Portugal and Denmark. To be fair to him, Sukur played most of the tournament as a lone striker and service from his teammates was mediocre.At least Turkey earned valuable experience on the international stage and they cannot be ruled out as potential dark horses such is the open nature of this June 10 to July 2 event.Predicting Turkey's line-up is a hazardous business given their desire for privacy but perhaps coach Mustafa Denizli will keep the same starting eleven.That would mean Rustu Recber in goal behind a back four of Umit Davala, Ogun Temizkanoglu, Alpay Ozalan and Tayfur Havutcu. The midfield would be Fatih Akyel, Okan Buruk, Abdullah Ercan and Sergen Yalcin with Hakan Sukur and Tayfun Korkut upfront.For Sweden, right back Roland Nilsson, who gave away the first goal and was substituted against Belgium, is definitely out.Nilsson may be out of the Italy game too. ``We will wait and see what the doctors say,'' said joint-coach Lars Lagerback on the Helsingborgs player after Monday training.Former Sheffield Wednesday star Nilsson was one of the heroes of Sweden's run to third place at the 1994 World Cup and is known as Stalmannen, or Superman in Swedish, for his exceptional fitness at the age of 37.AIK Stockholm's Teddy Lucic is set to come into the rightback position in Nilsson's absence. Lagerback's only other enforced change against Turkey is also in defence as Patrik Andersson was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card late in the Belgian game.Joachim Bjorklund, who did not play in the last six weeks of Valencia's season, is set to start in central defence with Real Zaragoza's Gary Sundgren coming in at left back.Celtic's Henrik Larsson, out for most of this season after breaking his leg in a UEFA Cup game, should start alongside Kennet Andersson in attack.A possible starting line-up against Turkey would read Magnus Hedman in goal, Lucic at right back, Olof Mellberg and Bjorklund in central defence and Sundgren at left back.Hakan Mild, Johan Mjallby, Fredrik Ljungberg and Niclas Alexandersson could be in midfield with Larsson and Andersson upfront.Both teams will need to show great character if they want to avoid the Euro 2000 exit door.
