Basturk battles with Rivaldo (Allsport).

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Tokyo

Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for Turkey team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone

Turkey coach Senol Gunes has been in the firing line this tournament from critics who have taken the former international goalkeeper to task over his tactics and team selection.

But Gunes has had the last laugh as Turkey stand on the brink of their first World Cup final.

Brazil, who beat the Turks in the opening group match courtesy of a controversial late penalty, meet them again in tomorrow's semi-final.

Certainly, Turkey's aggressive approach in the group games won them few friends and they had two players sent off against Brazil, although one was courtesy of Rivaldo's dreadful play-acting.

In the second round, Gunes changed tack against co-hosts Japan with a more laid-back style, with his side comfortably soaking up pressure after taking an early lead with a goal from Umit Davala which proved decisive.

Turkey then showed in the quarter-final victory over Senegal that they could attack as well as defend.

They looked particularly potent in going forward, although they had to rely on a golden goal from substitute Ilhan Mansiz.

Whatever approach Gunes adopts against Brazil, he is likely to deploy a flat back four, with Aston Villa's Alpay the key figure in a defence which has now kept clean sheets in their last three matches.

Blackburn's Tugay is the mainstay at the heart of the midfield, allowing Yildiray Basturk to push forward in support of the strikers, while Davala provides the width.

Up front, Hasan Sas has been Turkey's main threat as 31-year-old captain Hakan Sukur looks a player now past his prime, although Gunes will not drop him from the starting line-up.

Key Players

Rustu Recber: Along with Germany's Oliver Kahn and USA's Brad Friedel, Recber has been one of the most impressive goalkeepers at the tournament. However, he faces the biggest threat to his record of three successive clean sheets against Brazil's multi-talented attacking talents. The Fenerbahce stopper will need to be at his best if Turkey are to have a chance of stifling Ronaldo and Co.

Yildiray Basturk: The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder will be hoping to succeed against Brazil where David Beckham and Paul Scholes failed, by providing the supply line to his forwards. His performances alongside Michael Ballack took his club to an unlikely Champions League final. Basturk is now aiming for a similar feat with his country.

Hasan Sas: The shaven-headed striker is already familiar to Brazil after putting Turkey into a shock lead in the opening group game. His importance to Turkey's hopes is emphasised by the fact that he created his side's four other goals in the first phase.