Turkey shut out social media criticism on eve of Czech clash

HAMBURG, Germany : Turkey are turning a deaf ear to unhelpful social media criticism on the eve of their battle with the Czech Republic for a place in the knockout stage of Euro 2024.

Turkey only need a point to progress from Group F and banish the memory of their abject performance at the last Euros when they went home after three defeats and eight goals conceded.

Yet after a 3-1 opening win against Georgia, their subsequent 3-0 defeat to Portugal triggered criticism of coach Vincenzo Montella's tactics and some speculation of factions within the national team.

"Why do people want to cause an issue?" Montella said at a news conference in Hamburg where he was repeatedly asked about the criticism. "We are united. We won’t let that distract us. We are very motivated. Our fate is in our own hands.

"It's only our match that matters. We are focused on responding on the pitch as we have done over the past 10 months. They (the players) need to be supported."

With the likes of 19-year-old forward Arda Guler and playmaking captain Hakan Calhanoglu, 30, at their disposal, the Turks lie second to Portugal on three points and are favourites against the Czechs.

With some 3 million people of Turkish roots living in Germany, they will be roared on by a passionate fan base.

'WE LAUGH AT SOCIAL MEDIA'

"What happens in social media, we just laugh at it because most of the time there’s nothing happening inside the team. We have a hard time understanding what’s happening on social media," said winger Irfan Kahveci who has been hampered by injury but was hoping to get some minutes in Wednesday's game.

"Within the team, everything is good, we’re not being impacted by what people say online. Quite on the contrary, we are energised ... Whether players