TURKEY 2014: Yildizoglu looks for home fans to carry Turkey to Final

ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Turkey head coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu is hoping the passionate home support inside Fenerbahce Arena can propel his team to the final of the FIBA World Championship for Women.

Spain stand in the way of Turkey reaching the climax of the tournament on what promises to be an exciting Semi-Finals day.

"The most important thing is what we do with the support of the crowd," said Yildizoglu.

"So far, we have had our best achievements when we have been playing basketball abroad.

"Both teams know each other very well and we played in the Second Round (of EuroBasket Women) last year.

"We know how much quality and talent they have."

Turkey will not only be looking to harness the energy from what is likely to be another huge crowd, they will also be calling for their senior players to start making some big plays and really step things up.

Thankfully for Yildizoglu, the bench players for did a fine job in helping the team dodge a bullet in the Quarter-Final win over Serbia. The likes of Tugce Canitez came into the game at a critical time and helped to turn the tide in favour of his team.

The coach will also be out to try and control the tempo and look after the ball to stop Spain in transition where they really do punish their opponents. Keeping Alba Torrens in check will be important, while competing with the athleticism of Sancho Lyttle around the hoop is another key match-up.

In the second Semi-Final, two traditional powerhouses of the FIBA World Championship will tussle, with defending champions USA going up against the 2006 winners Australia.

"It's going to be a tough game," said Sue Bird who is playing at her fourth edition of the event and in her fourth Semi-Final.

"I understand that everyone is going to look at their team, outsiders looking in, and not see the names that they are used to seeing.

"But, we played against them, and they are tough and they play very well together.

"Even though they might not have Lauren Jackson and Elizabeth Cambage and whatever, they have an identity within themselves, and they really play to it.

"And they still have Penny Taylor, and they still have Belinda Snell and they still have people, Erin Phillips, who have played many years and have been successful, so you cannot overlook them at all.

"It is going to be tough."

FIBA