In the quarterfinals of the European Cup held on July 7, Beijing time, the Netherlands successfully advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Turkey. After the match, the new star of the Netherlands, Zilkezer, who came on as a substitute, was interviewed and shared his excitement and feelings about the match.
Zilkzer couldn't hide his excitement about the meaningful debut: "It was a game that made me forget that I was making my debut. When I came on as a substitute, I gave it my all, fought with my teammates and kept the lead. We did it in the end and I can't imagine a more perfect debut."
Zilkzer showed great adaptability and team spirit during the game. He mentioned that even though he needed to stand in the midfield position, this did not become an obstacle for him. "Our whole team gave it their all and the Turkish team tried every possible way of attacking, but luckily we had a great goalkeeper in Van de Ven, who made key saves on the goal line. Also, Dumfries' shoveling was fantastic. We played well overall."
Zielkirchzer has made significant progress in the Italian Serie A, which has helped him settle into the rhythm of the Dutch team more quickly. He confessed, "I feel in good shape, thanks to the hard work I put in during training. I always demand my best and, luckily, I am surrounded by a great group of players, which makes me more confident in the game. Although I joined the Europa League squad later, I quickly found my role. I'm aware that starting positions aren't easy to come by, so my task was to train well, make all the preparations before going on the pitch, and then when the opportunity came, give it my all and take it."
