Türkiye host Wales on the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri on Saturday for a pivotal UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 showdown.
A win would cement Türkiye’s place atop the group and safe promotion to League A with a sport to spare.
Brimming with confidence, the Crescent-Stars have been on a tear since their goalless draw in opposition to Wales in Cardiff on matchday one.
Vincenzo Montella’s facet has strung collectively three consecutive wins, scoring eight targets.
The spotlight was a dramatic 4-2 overcome Iceland in Reykjavik, sealed by late strikes from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu within the dying minutes.
Currently, Türkiye leads the group with 10 factors, two away from second-placed Wales.
The staff’s house type additional bolsters their confidence; they’re unbeaten of their final seven Nations League matches on Turkish soil, relationship again to October 2020.
In their most up-to-date house encounter in opposition to Wales in June, Türkiye cruised to a 2-0 win throughout Euro 2024 qualifying, with targets from Güler and Umut Nayir.
Injury issues for Türkiye
Despite their sturdy place, Türkiye faces challenges with accidents.
Defensive stalwarts Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Çağlar Söyüncü, and Ozan Kabak are sidelined, together with İrfan Kahveci and Doğan Alemdar.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, poised for his ninety fifth cap, will lead the midfield alongside Orkun Kökçü, whereas Real Madrid star Arda Güler takes on the playmaker function.
Aktürkoğlu, the joint-top scorer within the Nations League with 4 targets, is predicted to spearhead the assault with Yunus Akgün and Barış Alper Yılmaz.
Wales’ bid
Wales, ranked twenty ninth by FIFA, arrives in Kayseri hoping to maintain their promotion goals alive.
Craig Bellamy’s Dragons are unbeaten of their first 4 Nations League matches below his administration (W2 D2). However, accidents have ravaged their squad.
Key gamers Kieffer Moore, Rabbi Matondo, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns, and Owen Beck are all absent, together with Aaron Ramsey and Oli Cooper.
Veteran midfielder Joe Allen might anchor the middle, supported by youthful abilities like Josh Sheehan, Jordan James, and presumably the uncapped Luke Harris.
Harry Wilson, who has been in red-hot type for Fulham with three targets in current matches, is about to guide the assault alongside Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas.
Türkiye and Wales have clashed ten occasions in all competitions, with Wales holding a slight edge with 4 wins.
Their most up-to-date encounter on Turkish soil dates again to 1981 when Wales claimed a slim 1-0 win in World Cup qualifying.
However, Türkiye’s current dominance, notably at house, suggests a harder problem this time round.
Source: www.dailysabah.com