M
SM
Tuesday, June 11
Jun 8, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
Turkey
2-0
France
 
FT

Game Menu

/esi/1339/6_G_1_92328/index.html?art_id=361295&game_id=92328&sport_id=1&ESI

Preview: Turkey vs. France - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Turkey vs. France - prediction, team news, lineups:ID:361295: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Euro 2020 qualifier between Turkey and France, including team news and predicted lineups.
By , European Football Editor | 5d

Both Turkey and France will be looking to keep their 100% records alive in Group H when they lock horns in Saturday night's Euro 2020 qualifier at the Konya Buyuksehir Stadium.

Turkey have beaten Albania and Moldova in their two group fixtures thus far, while France have overcome Moldova and Iceland to also collect six points from an available six.


Turkey

Senol Gunes - in charge of the Turkish national team for the second time - has overseen four wins from his four matches since returning as head coach. Indeed, the 67-year-old saw his team beat Albania and Moldova in their first two Euro 2020 qualification matches before friendly wins over Greece and Uzbekistan.

France are, undoubtedly, the favourites to win Group H but a strong result for Turkey in this match would certainly make things very interesting. The Crescent-Stars have enjoyed some recent success in the European Championships, reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 and semi-finals of Euro 2008.

Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2012 but were at the 2016 competition, exiting in the group stages. It has been a disappointing few years considering that they have not actually been present at the finals of a World Cup since 2002, which is too long for a nation that has produced a number of brilliant footballers.

It would be fair to say that Gunes's team lack real experience and quality at the back, but that is certainly not the case further forward. Former Newcastle United midfielder Emre Belozoglu could win his 100th cap against France, while Oguzhan Ozyakup, Hakan Calhanoglu and Cengiz Under are all brilliant midfielders.

Burak Yilmaz and Cenk Tosun are amongst the options in the final third of the field, with the former scoring 24 international goals and the latter 13. France are perhaps the best team in world football but the hosts certainly have players capable of harming Didier Deschamps's side on Saturday night.

In terms of what is ahead for Turkey, they will travel to Iceland in their next qualifier on June 11 before facing Andorra and Moldova in September. While a defeat to France would not be ideal, it would be far from the end of the world as there is still a lot of football to be played as teams bid to qualify for Euro 2020.

Turkey's success since Gunes returned has been built on a strong defence, while they have actually conceded just twice in their last six international matches. A lot of things would have to happen for the hosts to overcome France in this match, but they will enter the contest full of confidence.

Somewhat surprisingly, Saturday will bring just the sixth international fixture between the two teams. France have won each of the previous five, including their last clash in June 2009 by a single goal.

Recent form: WW
Recent form (all competitions): LDWWWW


France

France warmed up for Saturday's clash with Turkey by beating Bolivia 2-0 in a friendly last week. Thomas Lemar and Antoine Griezmann scored the goals for Deschamps's side, who will be looking to move onto nine points in Group H ahead of their trip to Andorra on June 11.

Les Bleus opened their Euro 2020 qualification campaign with a 4-1 win away to Moldova on March 22 before thumping Iceland 4-0 three days later. This will be easily their biggest test in the group but it would be a huge shock if the 2018 World Cup winners did not finish comfortably top of the section.

There is no question that France deserved to win their second World Cup in Russia last summer - they were the best team by some distance and could dominate for some time due to their incredible talent.

France have not actually won a European Championship title since 2000, however, falling at the quarter-final stage in 2004 and 2012, before finishing as runners-up in Euro 2016, where they lost to Portugal in the final. Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, there were certainly more than a few signs that Les Bleus were capable of dominating international football and they must be considered as the favourites for Euro 2020.

The 2-0 loss at Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League back in November 2018 is their only international defeat since March 2018. Indeed, Deschamps's side followed the two-goal reverse to Holland by overcoming Uruguay in a friendly ahead of their first two Euro 2020 qualification matches.

Aside from Hugo Lloris, Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud, all of France's latest squad are under 30. Kylian Mbappe is perhaps the outstanding young attacker in world football but he is just one of a number of excellent players who can be called upon to represent the team ranked second in the FIFA rankings.

It will actually be the first time that France have travelled to Turkey for an international match since a friendly back in November 2000. The Blues won 4-0 on that occasion and have triumphed in each of the five previous meetings between the two European nations.

A defeat for Deschamps's side on Saturday night would be far from the end of the world. The World Cup holders will be keen to keep their momentum going, however, following four straight victories.

Recent form: WW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWW


Team News

Yilmaz is again expected to lead the line for Turkey, who could also include Under, Tosun and Calhanoglu as part of a talented front four.

Okay Yokuslu missed the win over Uzbekistan last time out with a knee problem and the same injury is expected to rule the Celta Vigo midfielder out of this contest.

Leicester City's Caglar Soyuncu is also in the squad but the 23-year-old is expected to start on the bench.

France were without the services of captain Hugo Lloris against Bolivia due to the goalkeeper's involvement in the Champions League final. Lloris is available for this match, however, and should return between the sticks.

Olivier Giroud is also available for selection having been left out against Bolivia after representing Chelsea in the Europa League final. The experienced forward could start at the tip of an attack which should also include Griezmann and Mbappe.

Paul Pogba could again be joined by Tanguy Ndombele in the middle of the park, while Matuidi is also in line to feature as Deschamps could favour his experience over the likes of Lemar and Kingsley Coman.

Clement Lenglet is also an option for the visitors having recovered from illness.

Turkey possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Kaldirim, Demiral, Ayhan, Celik; Tekdemir, Tokoz; Tosun, Calhanoglu, Under; Yilmaz

France possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Digne; Ndombele, Pogba; Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud


Head To Head



Saturday will be the sixth international meeting between these two teams. France have won each of the previous five, including a 1-0 victory in their last clash in June 2009.

Their last competitive meeting came in the FIFA Confederations Cup back in June 2003, with Les Bleus running out 3-2 winners.


We say: Turkey 1-2 France



There is no question that Turkey are capable of taking points off France on Saturday night. However, we just fancy Deschamps's side to shade a close contest due to their quality in the final third of the field.






amp_article_361295 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-06-09 06:00:57:
html db last update - 2019-06-11 10:06:02 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Share this article now:

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38322495237298
2Liverpool38307189226797
3Chelsea38219863392472
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs382321367392871
5Arsenal382171073512270
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991065541166
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38169134746157
8Everton38159145446854
9Leicester CityLeicester38157165148352
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham38157165255-352
11Watford38148165259-750
12Crystal Palace38147175153-249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174248-645
14Bournemouth38136195670-1445
15Burnley38117204568-2340
16Southampton38912174565-2039
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3899203560-2536
RCardiff CityCardiff38104243469-3534
RFulham3875263481-4726
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3837282276-5416
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38322495237298
2Liverpool38307189226797
3Chelsea38219863392472
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs382321367392871
5Arsenal382171073512270
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991065541166
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38169134746157
8Everton38159145446854
9Leicester CityLeicester38157165148352
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham38157165255-352
11Watford38148165259-750
12Crystal Palace38147175153-249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174248-645
14Bournemouth38136195670-1445
15Burnley38117204568-2340
16Southampton38912174565-2039
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3899203560-2536
RCardiff CityCardiff38104243469-3534
RFulham3875263481-4726
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3837282276-5416
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.