The regular football season is coming to an end in most countries, and so the focus is slowly shifting to next month: the European Championship 2024 in Germany. The selections of all participating countries will be announced in the coming weeks, something they have until June 7 at the latest. Which 26 players will the national coaches take with them to the final tournament, and who will stay at home? Football zone zooms in on the options that the national coaches of the most important countries have. In this edition: Turkey.

The Turks are ready for another stunt at a final tournament. For example, like at the 2002 World Cup or the 2008 European Championship, when the semi-finals were reached both times. However, recent years have been less smooth for Turkey: at the European Championships in 2021, the country finished last in the group without a chance, while Ay-Yildizlilar did not even manage to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

This summer, the Turks have plenty of reasons to hope that things will improve. They won their European Championship qualifying group – above Croatia – and the opponents Turkey faces at the European Championship also offer opportunities: Portugal, the Czech Republic and Georgia.

Despite the fact that Turkey had excellent European Championship qualification, national coach Stefan Kuntz was fired in September last year. He was succeeded by Vincenzo Montella, former coach of AS Roma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, among others. Turkey's performance under his leadership has been mixed: in November they won a friendly match against Germany (2-3), but at the end of March Turkey suffered a hard defeat against Austria: 6-1. Which players will Montella take to the European Championships in Germany, in the hope of a new stunt at a final tournament? This Thursday he will announce the preselection, and Football zone is already looking ahead.

Goalkeepers

A few years ago, fans of Turkey would have had no doubt that Ugurcan Çakir and Altay Bayindir would compete for a place under the Turkish bar in the coming years. However, Bayindir now hardly gets around to goalkeeping at his club Manchester United, while Çakir has not achieved the same excellent form in recent years as in the 2021/22 season.

However, both goalkeepers seem to be able to count on a place in the European Championship selection. It is expected that Çakir will even be the first goalkeeper next summer. However, the competition, including the experienced Mert Günok from Besiktas, is not easy.

Options: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Ugurcan Çakir (Trabzonspor), Mert Günok (Besiktas), Muhammed Sengezer (Basaksehir).

Ugurcan Çakir seems to be Turkey's first goalkeeper next summer.

Defenders

Even in this line, not all players have been able to live up to the expectations that were there a few years ago. Consider, for example, Çaglar Söyüncü, who was one of the better defenders in the Premier League, Merih Demiral, who managed to keep Matthijs de Ligt out of the starting line-up at Juventus, and Bundesliga talent Ozan Kabak.

Kabak is currently still performing well at TSG Hoffenheim, but the other two are having a more difficult time. Demiral now plays for the Saudi Arabian Al-Ahli, while Söyüncü failed to become a regular at Atlético Madrid this season and is now rented out to Fenerbahçe.

Yet new talent in defense is already on its way in Turkey, such as Ajax player Ahmetcan Kaplan and Valencia defender Cenk Özkacar. And the Turks also have plenty of options on the wings: not only former NEC player Ferdi Kadioglu, but also Zeki Çelik and Mert Müldür.

Options: Samet Akaydin (Panathinaikos), Abdülkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Zeki Çelik (AS Roma), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Eren Elmali (Trabzonspor), Ozan Kabak (TSG Hoffenheim), Ferdi Kadioglu (Fenerbahçe), Ahmetcan Kaplan (Ajax) ), Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe), Cenk Özkacar (Valencia), Çaglar Söyüncü (Fenerbahçe), Ridvan Yilmaz (Rangers).

Arnhem-born Ferdi Kadioglu, here in a duel with Welshman Connor Roberts, is doing well as a wing defender at both Fenerbahçe and the Turkish team.

Midfielders

With 84 caps, Inter midfielder Hakan Çalhanoglu is the player with the most caps that Montella can call on, and it is therefore expected that he will simply take a seat in midfield this summer. That could also apply to former Feyenoord players Orkun Kökçü and Salih Özcan.

Another player who could start in midfield is Ismail Yüksek. The Fenerbahçe player suffered an ankle injury against Besiktas at the end of April, which ended his season. Yet there is good hope that he will recover in time for the European Championship.

Top talent Arda Güler is having a difficult first season at Real Madrid, partly due to injuries. It is expected that he will be allowed to go to Germany this summer.

Options: Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Hakan Çalhanoglu (Inter), Arda Güler (Real Madid), Orkun Kökçü (Benfica), Abdülkadir Ömür (Hull City), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund), Can Uzun (FC Nürnberg), Ismail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe ).

Arda Güler, here in a duel with former PSV player Phillipp Mwene, is Turkey's top talent.

Attackers

Burak Yilmaz, the top striker who also played for Fortuna Sittard in the autumn of his career, has now retired. That's why it's time to stand up for other Turkish strikers. An example of this is Enes Ünal, who we know in the Netherlands from NAC Breda and FC Twente. The 33-time international is currently rented out by Getafe to AFC Bournemouth.

On the wings, Kenan Yildiz and Kerem Aktürkoglu have a good chance of starting. Yet they have stiff competition: including from Cengiz Ünder, Yusuf Yazici, Irfan Can Kahveci and Yunus Akgün. Oguz Aydin, born in The Hague, was in the selection for the first time in March, and can therefore continue to hope to join us this summer.

Options: Yunus Akgün (Leicester City), Kerem Aktürkoglu (Galatasaray), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Oguz Aydin (Alanyaspor), Irfan Can Kahveci (Fenerbahçe), Semih Kiliçsoy (Besiktas), Yusuf Sari (Adana Demirspor), Cenk Tosun (Besiktas) ), Enes Ünal (AFC Bournemouth), Cengiz Ünder (Fenerbahçe), Yusuf Yazici (Lille OSC), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus).

Will former Eredivisie player Enes Ünal be in the starting line-up in Germany this summer?

Probable setup

It is expected that Montella will opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Çakir being allowed to take a seat under the crossbar. Kuntz opted for Günok last year, but under Montella the Trabzonspor goalie seems certain of a starting place.

Bardakci has impressed in the last few international matches, and that may be rewarded with a starting place. It could well be that he forms the heart of the defense with Demiral. Kadioglu can also hope for a place in the starting eleven, just like right back Çelik.

Çalhanoglu will play in midfield anyway. Özcan can be next to him, but if Yüksek recovers from his injury in time, he could be preferred to the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

In addition to the aforementioned Kadioglu, two other former Eredivisie players can hope for a starting place: Kökçü and Ünal. The former must be given preference over Güler. Meanwhile, Yilzir and Aktürkoglu have a good chance of starting on the wings.

Probable European Championship line-up Turkey: Çakir; Çelik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Yüksek, Çalhanoglu; Yildiz, Kökçü, Aktürkoglu; Unal.

Important absentees

At the moment there are no contenders for the Turkish selection who (are at risk of) missing the European Championship. Montella will hope this continues in the coming weeks so he can take all the key players with him.

This article is an update of an earlier news item. The comments below the message may therefore be less current.

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