Turkey are one of the wildcards playing at Euro 2024. Vincenzo Montella’s team has a few talented players in their ranks and will look to make a mark at the European championships.
Ay-Yıldızlılar are not among the pre-tournament favorites. However, given the quality of some of the players in their ranks, they could proceed to the later stages of the competitions and surprise everyone.
Predicted lineup of Turkey National Football Team playing in EUROs
Turkey have players like Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Merih Demiral, Altay Bayındır, and more in their ranks. Hence, Monzella could be able to field a competitive XI for them during the Euros. Güler, Çalhanoğlu, and others have been playing for top European clubs. Hence, they have valuable experience under their belts, which could come in handy during the European championships.
Turkey Best XI: Altay Bayındır (GK), Kaan Ayhan, Samet Akaydin, Merih Demiral, Mert Müldür, Hakan Çalhanoğlu (C), Salih Özcan, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Cenk Tosun
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Team Strengths
- Star players – Turkey have several star players in their ranks. Çalhanoğlu, Güler, Demiral, and others have experience at the top level of European football. Hence, they won’t be overwhelmed by an occasion like the European Championships. This is certainly a good aspect to have.
- Raw talent – Güler, Kökçü, Çalhanoğlu, and others are very talented players. Güler is one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the world. He has the ability to produce something out of nothing. Çalhanoğlu can dictate a game with his passing and has a tremendous long-range shot. The Turkish midfielder can score goals from anywhere. Yıldız is a bright prospect while the experienced Tosun knows his way around the goal.
- Squad harmony – Turkey topped their group in the qualifying round. Despite the presence of a star name, there’s no one particular goalscorer. Rather, the quality is spread all across the pitch.
Team Weaknesses:
- Goalscoring issues – Turkey doesn’t have an out-and-out goalscorer. In a competition like the Euros, having one such player could be beneficial. Despite having so many creators, they don’t have that master finisher.
- Inexperience – This will be Turkey’s sixth-ever Euro appearance, the same as Cristiano Ronaldo’s. They will face Portugal in Group F. Apart from that, Turkey also has never reached beyond the quarter-finals of the Euros. Hence, they don’t have much experience on the biggest stages.
Turkey EURO 2024 Key Players to Watch Out For
- Arda Güler – Real Madrid’s Arda Güler is currently one of the best young talents in world football. He is a candidate for the Golden Boy Award. Güler has the ability to create something out of nothing, which can come in handy in a tournament like the Euros.
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu – Çalhanoğlu has played for clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and more in his career. He is familiar with the big stages. He is also a fantastic player. Çalhanoğlu has an amazing passing range. His shooting is an asset, as the midfielder can score at any given point.
- Honorable mentions – Altay Bayındır, Orkun Kökçü, and Kenan Yıldız
Conclusion:
Turkey are in a difficult group F. They will come up against Portugal, Georgia, and Czechia. However, their qualifying form was impressive. It’s hard to rule out their chances of making the last eight of the Euro 2024.
Also Read: A tactical preview for Portugal National Football Team playing in EURO 2024