Before we talk about Turkey vs France, let's go back to the World Cup, which ended for you in the group stage. Was that unexpected after reaching the Euro quarterfinals two years earlier?
"After such a disastrous World Cup, which none of us expected, Vincenzo Montella actually stayed on. For me, that was a surprise - I didn't think he would continue, but for now, he is still our national coach and we have to support him for the upcoming matches against France, Belgium, and Italy."
Why was it a surprise that he remained?
"The new generation of Turkish players includes a lot of top-quality talent, that's the truth. They've managed to play abroad and are now in big foreign teams or top Turkish clubs. The problem isn't individual, because Turkey has always had players with proven potential, but we don't play enough as a team.
"If we can improve both defensively and offensively, we can beat anyone. On the other hand, our inconsistency makes us miss out on too much: either we play very well, or we play very badly. That's what we need to control better to avoid this instability."
Kenan Yildiz is injured, but Arda Guler is in great form. Is it up to him to take charge of the team?
"Arda Guler is an impressive player, a world-class talent. He plays for Real Madrid and we can all see he's one of the best in his position. He's our leader, and even though he's very young, he's already gained a lot of experience.
"He likes to take responsibility, and that's something I really love about him. That's why I expect even more from him, because he's a captain, our star, and I predict a brilliant future for him."
Arda Turan was a major Turkish figure on the pitch and is now becoming one as a coach. Can we predict a future for him like Fatih Terim's?
"I played for the national team with Arda Turan and I can tell you he has always had a lot of character. He continues to show it. His coaching career is off to a great start. Becoming a new Fatih Terim is very difficult, but Arda is showing that he's going to become a great coach. And one day, he'll manage Turkey."
The big news for the French national team is Zinedine Zidane. You faced him in La Liga. What do you expect from him as coach of Les Bleus?
"I played against Zidane and... he was a phenomenon! In fact, he still is, and I'm convinced his players will be hugely motivated with him, for everything he represents as a player and now as a coach. The French national team will change a lot with Zidane. It's already a great team, but it can get even better with him.
"I'm sure the fans are going to love watching them with him... but I hope they'll see that after this match against Turkey (laughs). I'm a bit worried about this first match with Zidane because the French will be extra motivated, but I want Turkey to win!"
Speaking of LaLiga, you were part of some truly memorable teams!
"When I played in Spain, I was lucky enough to play alongside the likes of Xabi Alonso, Darko Kovacevic, Valeri Karpin, Robert Pires, Marcos Senna, Cani, Joan Capdevila, Diego Godin... I spent eight fantastic seasons there.
"We finished second in LaLiga with both Real Sociedad and Villarreal, and that's not easy to do. I scored a lot of goals, and all those great players helped me achieve that. Those are unforgettable moments for me."
Finally, what's your prediction for Turkey vs France?
"France are the favourites, but we're playing at home, with our fans. If we defend well, why not score a goal or two? After all, we won a few years ago. It's going to be a very tough match, but I hope we'll enjoy watching it.
"It's going to be complicated, I'm not making a prediction, but just for the atmosphere, it's going to be spectacular. And may the best team win... especially if it's Turkey!"