Cenk Tosun: “I came here to score goals.”

Turkish National Football Team player Cenk Tosun, who stated that he does not think the team will have trouble scoring goals at the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2024), mentioned that he will do his best to score goals.
Germany, A National Football Team player who will compete in EURO 2024 to be held between June 14 – July 14, Cenk Tosun, the striker of the team, made statements to the press members in Poland where the crescent-star team camped.

“Our preparations are ongoing at full speed”
Starting his words by mentioning that the preparations are going well, Cenk said, “Our preparations are ongoing at full speed. Initially, the coach put a load on us. It was good for us. He prepared us. Now, with the matches coming, the pace has slowed down a bit. We are working on different things in training. Of course, there have also been sad events. Whether it’s Ozan or Enes, we would have liked to be here with them, to see them here. But unfortunately, football is like this, I have experienced it too. I know they are very strong. Hopefully, they will overcome this injury and come back stronger,” he said.

“I think we played a very good game against a strong opponent”
Cenk Tosun also mentioned the match against Italy played in Bologna on Tuesday, June 4, which ended in a goalless draw. The 33-year-old player said, “I think we finished a match without giving any or few chances. Yes, we couldn’t get into too many positions either, but we played compact and disciplined. We showed that we can do good things at that level. I think we played a very good game against such a strong opponent. It was a good preparation match for us. Now we have the match against Poland ahead. We want to go through it well and hopefully come out victorious and be fully prepared for the tournament,” he said.

“It’s not an easy group, but we trust in our own strength”
Evaluating Group F, where the national team is placed with Portugal, Czech Republic, and Georgia in EURO 2024, the striker said, “I don’t want to underestimate anyone, of course. But Georgia has nothing to lose. They are participating in such a big tournament for the first time. There’s no need to mention Portugal. They might be one of the favorites of the tournament. We played against them just 1-2 years ago, we played a good second half in that match. Unfortunately, it was a game we didn’t win in the end. Czech Republic is also a team that maintains its line, participates in every tournament, a good team. So it’s not an easy group, but we trust in our own strength. I think we will get good results from all three matches,” he said.

“We want to take it step by step”
Responding to a question regarding whether the high expectations from the team in the tournament create pressure on them, Cenk said, “It does not create pressure on us. Because these are good things, it means our people trust us since they say such things. But we have always said in the previous tournaments that we will reach the quarter-finals, semi-finals, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get there. That’s why we want to take it step by step. Our priority is the 3 matches in the group. Hopefully, we want to go through them very well and then we want to continue step by step,” he replied.

“I don’t think this team will have trouble scoring goals”
Cenk Tosun also emphasized that the national team does not have any problems in scoring goals. The red and white player said, “If you look at the last 3 matches, what you said is correct, but along with the qualifiers and preparation matches, we scored 20 goals if I’m not mistaken. 17 different players scored these goals. That’s why not only the strikers but everyone in the team can score goals. Everyone carries the goal-scoring burden. I don’t think this team will have trouble scoring goals,” he said.

“We were saddened by the departure of our teammates from the squad”
Expressing his sadness for the footballer friends who had to leave due to the final squad of 26 players announced last night for EURO 2024, Cenk said, “Because everyone has put effort into this. Everyone has been training here for 1 week, 10 days. We are working, preparing for the tournament. Everyone wants to go there. Because that’s the highest point. That’s why we were saddened by the departure of our brothers, our friends. We sat with them, had our last chat, drank our tea, and then bid them farewell. They won’t be here for this tournament, but their jerseys will always belong to them,” he commented.

“I’m trying to set a good example for our young players”
Referring to Arda Güler, Semih Kılıçsoy, and Kenan Yıldız as ‘big star candidates,’ Cenk said the following:
“They are like my little brothers. They are always by my side. I am also trying to set a good example for them. Because I have been through those paths. All three of them are really great talents, big star candidates. We have caught a nice generation. Whether it’s me, Mert Günok, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, we are trying to support them as their older brothers. We are trying to show them the right path. Because as a young player, it is really not easy sometimes to manage the psychological pressure. But they are all on the right track. Turkish people trust them, and we trust them too.”

“I will give everything to score goals”
When reminded that he is known for his spectacular goals, Cenk Tosun said, “That’s my job, I came here to score goals. Hopefully, it will be a spectacular goal, but more importantly, it is the success of the team. If you ask whether a spectacular goal or advancing from the group is more important, I would of course accept advancing from the group in any case. But if I was brought here to score goals, I will give everything to score them,” he said.

“I was expecting to be in the provisional squad”
Stating that they could not reach high goal numbers as a team this season at Beşiktaş due to a difficult period, but still expected to be in the EURO 2024 squad, Cenk continued as follows:
“I was expecting it frankly because I am always a type of person who believes in myself. Yes, maybe we had a very tough time at Beşiktaş, but we had it as a team. The team scored 3-5 goals every week, it wasn’t because I played badly. We couldn’t succeed as a team this season. Yes, I didn’t have my best season either, but still, I contributed with 11 goals and 7 assists to Beşiktaş. These numbers are not bad numbers. When I came here, when I sweated in the national jersey, I have always been successful or scored goals. That’s why I hoped and expected to be in the provisional squad when I came here. That’s why I worked for it.”

“I think they will be accustomed to this level”
Pointing out that the national team has one of the youngest squads in the tournament, the crescent-star player said, “I think our team is about 25.8 in percentage. A very young squad. We have very talented young players. Among them, there are experienced players like Mert, me, Hakan. Some of them will participate in this tournament for maybe the second or third time. We want to make them experience that atmosphere. Because we have seen those tournaments, we are here to both tell them about that atmosphere and teach them. They all play in very big leagues. I think they will be accustomed to this level,” he said.

“We are counting the days to reunite with them”
Stating that the European Championship being held in Germany is an advantage for them in terms of fan support, Cenk Tosun said, “Since I was born in Germany and most of my family still lives there, I really know the enthusiasm and excitement of those people. We are counting the days to reunite with them. In most matches, more fans will be our fans. We are happy about that. Because they have always been a driving force for us. We are also very excited. I am also excited because I was born and raised in Germany. Because all my friends, all my family will come. I’m already thinking about how to arrange tickets for them. We have very nice matches ahead of us,” he concluded.