Turkey, under the management of former Roma and Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, has impressed in their qualification group for the upcoming international tournament. They finished ahead of Croatia and Wales, showcasing Montella’s ability to adapt to international management. However, the team’s goal-scoring ability could pose a challenge, as they only managed to score seven goals in their six matches, excluding wins over Latvia.
Montella took over a team that was disappointed after missing out on the 2022 World Cup due to a play-off defeat against Portugal. This disappointment may fuel their desire for revenge in the upcoming tournament. Despite their early exit from Euro 2020, Turkey could be considered dark horses to make a run to the last eight or even further.
Hakan Calhanoglu, the key player for Turkey, will be instrumental in their success. As an Inter Milan star, he has crossed the San Siro divide and returning to his home country in a Turkey kit will not be a problem. Calhanoglu’s dead-ball threat will be crucial in Turkey’s tactics.
Turkey consistently enters major international tournaments as dark horses and is often tipped to do well. This year is no different, especially since they are in a group with Portugal, Czech Republic, and Georgia, which gives them confidence in reaching at least the knockout stage.
Turkey’s approach to building up their attacks is modern and patient. They ensure they have at least one extra player in the buildup to play through the pressure. One of the deeper midfielders drops back to create an advantage against the opposition’s pressing. As they move into the middle, Turkey uses longer passes into wide areas, allowing their attackers and full-backs to overload the opposition.
Defensively, Turkey is aggressive and compact. They aim to cut off the center of the pitch, forcing their opponents to play wide. They are skilled at pressing traps, using their experience and physicality to force mistakes from the opposition. Even when spread out, Turkey remains difficult to play through centrally.
In terms of predictions, Turkey is expected to make it to the knockout rounds. However, with tough opponents like England and France, advancing further in the tournament may be challenging. Currently, they are 8/11 to finish in the top two of their group and 50/1 to win the entire tournament.
Overall, Turkey, led by Vincenzo Montella, has the potential to surprise in the upcoming international tournament. With their patient build-up and aggressive defensive tactics, they have the ability to compete against strong teams. However, their success may be limited by the tough competition they could face in the later stages of the tournament.