The Turkish national football team has demonstrated mixed results in major international tournaments over the years. In the 2000s, the team reached new heights, winning bronze at the 2002 World Cup and reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008. However, a series of disappointments and failures followed. In the upcoming Euro 2024, the Turkish team is hopeful for rehabilitation and a return to past successes. Under the guidance of experienced coach Vincenzo Montella, the team qualified, showing signs of progress.
The top scorers in the qualification were Kerem Akturkoglu and Cenk Tosun, each scoring two goals. Despite promising qualification results, there are still some doubts and questions about the Turkish team. In the previous Euro 2020, the team had its worst performance in history, losing all three group stage matches and conceding eight goals while scoring only one. Turkish footballers are placing high hopes on key players like Hakan Calhanoglu, Cenk Tosun, and young midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who has become a cornerstone of the team.
Whether the Turkish national team can overcome past failures and make a mark on the big stage will be revealed at Euro 2024. Mostbet com IN bookmakers assess the chances of the Turkish team as not very high. Let's try to understand.
Turkey's group at Euro 2024
The Turkish national team at Euro 2024 is in Group F, facing formidable opponents. This group consists of teams with rich football history and experience in major tournaments. Portugal is the undisputed favorite in the group. The current European champions, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will aim for the top spot. Turkish footballers face a challenging task against the star-studded Portuguese team. Czechia is another serious opponent for the Turkish team. The Czechs are known for their organized teams and ability to achieve results on the big stage. Matches against this opponent promise to be tense and tactically sound.
The fourth participant in Group F will be determined through the play-off path C, where Georgia will face Luxembourg and Greece will play against Kazakhstan. The winners of these pairs will meet in the play-off final, and the team securing a spot in Euro 2024 will be the last member of Group F. The Turkish team faces tough competition in the group with such formidable opponents. However, matches against strong teams will allow Vincenzo Montella's team to test their strengths and fully unleash their potential, proving their ability to compete with the best European teams.
Turkey's path to Euro 2024
Turkey's hopes for a third consecutive European Championship were initially jeopardized after a 1-1 draw against Armenia. However, the decisive step came with the dismissal of Stefan Kuntz as the head coach after a friendly game lost to Japan 4-2. He was replaced by Italian specialist Vincenzo Montella, who breathed new life into the Turkish team. Under Montella's leadership, Turkey secured a 1-0 victory over Croatia in an away match in Osijek. It was Croatia's first home defeat in Euro qualification. Following this success, the Turks defeated Latvia 4-0, securing their place in Euro 2024.
Montella became the first foreign coach to lead the Turkish national team to a major international tournament. Encouraged by these results, Turkish footballers then achieved an impressive friendly victory over Germany, winning 3-2 in Berlin. This only heightened expectations that Turkey could spring a few surprises at the upcoming Euro 2024. Of course, they are unlikely to surpass Portugal in the battle for the top spot in Group F, but they have a good chance to finish second, surpassing Czechia. It will also be interesting to see which team from the play-off path C (Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, or Luxembourg) will become the fourth participant in Group F.
Interesting facts about the Turkish national team before Euro 2024
Before the upcoming tournament, it is worth noting some interesting facts about the Turkish team:
Turkey is participating in its sixth UEFA European Championship but qualified for three consecutive championships for the first time. The team's best result remains reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
Turkey lost six out of the last seven matches in UEFA Euro (with one victory). Moreover, the team kept only one clean sheet in the last 12 tournament matches – a 2-0 victory over Czechia in the group stage of Euro 2016.
Eleven out of Turkey's 14 goals in European Championships were scored in the second half.
Vincenzo Montella will be the first non-Turkish head coach to lead the Turkish national team in a major international tournament since Italian Sandro Puppo in the 1954 World Cup.
The team under the guidance of the first foreign coach will strive to showcase their best football and improve on the results of previous European Championships.
