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 recreation 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 objectives.
The spotlight was a dramatic 4-2 conquer 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 workforce’s dwelling kind 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 dwelling encounter in opposition to Wales in June, Türkiye cruised to a 2-0 win throughout Euro 2024 qualifying, with objectives from Güler and Umut Nayir.
Injury issues for Türkiye
Despite their robust 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 position.
Aktürkoğlu, the joint-top scorer within the Nations League with 4 objectives, is anticipated 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 desires 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 skills like Josh Sheehan, Jordan James, and probably the uncapped Luke Harris.
Harry Wilson, who has been in red-hot kind for Fulham with three objectives in latest matches, is ready 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 slender 1-0 win in World Cup qualifying.
However, Türkiye’s latest dominance, notably at dwelling, suggests a more durable problem this time round.
Source: www.dailysabah.com