Aziz Behich, a seasoned campaigner with two World Cups under his belt, already knows how he will feel when the Australian national anthem plays before the Socceroos' opening match against Turkey. However, he is uncertain about his emotions when the Turkish anthem echoes through Vancouver's BC Place on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Heritage and Emotions
The Melbourne-born defender, of Turkish-Cypriot descent, grew up watching the Turkish Super Lig. He spent most of his club career in Turkey, playing mainly for Bursaspor and winning the Super Lig with Istanbul Basaksehir. Yet, he has never faced the country of his roots on the international stage.
“It’s going to be a little bit extra special playing against Turkey,” Behich told AAP. “I’ve got a few mates in their final squad and obviously my background and my parents that are going to the stadium as well. I think it’ll really hit me when the anthems come on and you see one side red, one side yellow.”
A Childhood Dream
This marks Turkey's first World Cup appearance since 2002, when an 11-year-old Behich watched them finish third on a massive projector screen in Dallas with friends and family. He also recalls Turkey defeating the Socceroos at Docklands two years later.
Behich’s winning goal against Japan last year secured automatic World Cup qualification for the Socceroos. Growing up in Meadow Heights and Broadmeadows, areas he describes as “Little Istanbul,” Behich expects the local community to be buzzing.
No Holding Back
The combative defender will not hold back against his friends in Turkey’s squad, including goalkeeper Mert Gunok, Roma right-back Zeki Celik, and attacker Irfan Can Kahveci, as well as stars like Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz. “I’m there to do a job for Australia,” Behich said. “I chose to play for Australia and I want this World Cup to be special and obviously do better than we did last World Cup.”
Family Support
Behich will have his parents Yasar and Cemaliye, his uncles, his sister, his brother-in-law, his sister-in-law, and his wife in the stands. “I’m not sure what the future holds after this, especially for myself but also for my family because they’ve been along for the journey the whole time,” he said. “They’ve been at every World Cup. I’m not sure if the stars have aligned perfectly for the first game, but they’re excited to come.”
It will also be special to have his wife Rosè, who was diagnosed with lymphoma after Qatar but is now in remission, at a third World Cup. “That did put life into perspective, because before, even though I was married, it’s been always football,” Behich said. “When I think about waking up sore, I can’t complain — I’ve got to get on with it after what I’ve seen her go through. She gives me strength. No matter what she was battling — the cancer, the chemo — she’s always supported me and made sure I was playing my football. She’s been at every World Cup so I’m forever grateful that I’ve got someone like her behind me.”
Looking Ahead
Behich is likely to play deputy to Jordan Bos and at 35, knows that time isn’t on his side, even though he is fit and in form. “I’m not sure if it’s all meant to be, if this is the last one or not, but I’m not thinking that far ahead,” Behich said. “I just want to stay in the present moment. I want to enjoy this.”
