Euro 2021 Preview - Turkey
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When people mention roughies for the Euros this year - Wales gets a mention in almost every article I read.
Personally, I don’t even think they’ll get out of the group. Instead, my pick as the smokie for the Euros this year is Turkey.
Here we’ll look at their chances.
The Squad
Turkey have named their 26-man squad (RIP my autocorrect). Here it is according to UEFA.com. When you click a link, it’ll take you to their eBay search.
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Fenerbahçe), Uğurcan Çakır (Trabzonspor), Mert Günok (İstanbul Başakşehir)
Defenders: Kaan Ayhan (Sassuolo), Zeki Çelik (LOSC Lille), Merih Demiral (Juventus), Ozan Kabak (Liverpool), Umut Meraş (Le Havre), Mert Müldür (Sassuolo), Çağlar Söyüncü (Leicester), Rıdvan Yılmaz (Beşiktaş)
Midfielders: Taylan Antalyalı (Galatasaray), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (AC Milan), Halil Dervişoğlu (Brentford), İrfan Can Kahveci (Fenerbahçe), Orkun Kökçü (Feyenoord), Abdülkadir Ömür (Trabzonspor), Dorukhan Toköz (Beşiktaş), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahçe), Okay Yokuşlu (West Brom)
Forwards: Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Galatasaray), Kenan Karaman (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Enes Ünal (Getafe), Cengiz Ünder (Leicester), Yusuf Yazıcı (LOSC Lille), Burak Yılmaz (LOSC Lille)
Turkey Preview
A lot of people might think of Turkey shaking things up in big tournaments in the past - they’ve gone far in World Cups and Euro comps before.
And I think they’re a great shout this time around (with the knowledge there’s every chance I look like an idiot here).
I’m not going to try and ‘sell’ you on Turkey here - but I will give a preview to their tournament from my eyes. But do keep in mind that I am higher on them than most are, so take it with a grain of salt.
Coached by Senol Gunes (who was in charge when they made the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup), Turkey have been a very solid unit.
In the 26 games since Gunes has taken over, they’ve only lost three times - and a lot of those wins have been over some fancied competition. They’ve beaten the Netherlands and Norway in World Cup qualifying and took four points off France in qualifying for this tournament.
They also drew with Croatia and Germany in friendlies.
However they’ve also lost to Hungary twice - which could end up being a bit of a bogey team. However, it’s unlikely Hungary will get out of their group of death.
Turkey only conceded 3 goals during qualifying, which was best throughout the quals. However, since then, they’ve only kept three clean sheets in their last ten games.
As far as their group goes, while Switzerland and Wales are no pushovers, Turkey should finish second behind Italy.
From there, the round of 16 match-up will be against whoever finishes second in group B.
Which, as we discussed in the Belgium preview, isn’t exactly an incredibly difficult group.
Turkey would have to fancy their chances against whoever comes second in this group.
From there, they’re in a quarter and who knows.
Key Players
The Turkish side has a lot of quality in it.
Their key man for this tournament will be a man that’s made a lot of positive headlines recently.
It isn’t every season a player cracks into Europe’s top five leagues when they’re 35 - Fortunately for Lille, Burak Yılmaz isn’t one of those players.
Yılmaz starred in France and helped them win the league.
Yılmaz is an absolute beast for the national team too - He is currently their highest active goal scorer and the second highest in their history with 28 goals in 66 appearances.
A great player, in top form.
And, because of the season he’s had - he already has the narrative around him written - we just need that last chapter.
Elsewhere, Hakan Çalhanoğlu is an insane talent and probably their best player all things considered.
A really good creator, he get a lot of score involvements and had the most key passes in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season.
Furthermore, he’s a free agent too - and he could end up anywhere this offseason, with some Man United buzz happening (I can’t see that though).
Final Thoughts
I really like Turkey’s chances at turning some heads in this competition.
So when Yılmaz is banging in important goals and he becomes the media darling after his Lille season, just remember you’ve heard it here first.
Or, chuck $100 on Turkey to lose all their games because I’m wrong more than I’m right 🤷🤷
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