Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Turkey could line up for Saturday’s Euro 2024 Group F clash against Portugal.
Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella could name an unchanged starting lineup for Saturday’s Euro 2024 Group F encounter with Portugal at Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.
Montella celebrated his 50th birthday in style as his Turkey side secured a 3-1 victory over Georgia on matchday one, inspired by 19-year-old Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler who scored a goal-of-the-tournament contender midway through the second half.
Turkey became only the second nation in European Championship history to name two teenagers (Guler and fellow 19-year-old Kenan Yildiz) in their starting lineup, and both players are set to retain their spots on the flanks against Portugal.
Baris Yilmaz will hope to keep his place as the central striker, although he faces competition from experienced frontman Cenk Tosun, while Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu should get the nod to start again in the number 10 role ahead of Lille’s Yusuf Yazici.
Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu is set to continue in a deeper midfield role alongside Kaan Ayhan, although the latter could be replaced by either Borussia Dortmund’s Salih Ozcan or West Bromwich Albion’s Okay Yokuslu.
Mert Muldur scored a superb goal in the win over Georgia and he is expected to continue a right-back, joining Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci and Ferdi Kadioglu in a four-man defence, meaning Zeki Celik and Merih Demiral will likely have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench once again.
Turkey possible starting lineup: Gunok; Muldur, Akaydin, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Ozcan, Calhanoglu; Guler, Kokcu, Yildiz; Yilmaz
> Click here to see how Portugal could line up for this contest
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