Euro 2024: Wales Desperate for a Pre-Christmas Boost from Turkiye

Wales vs Turkey

Time is running out for Wales; and Rob Page’s team has lost control. They need a treat; they need some luck and they need the stars to align. 

While Euro 2024: Wales vs Turkey is a huge game for the Red Dragons, Turkiye players and fans are already planning for their trip to Germany next year. Vincenzo Montella has led the Turks to the top of the group and they fully deserve their place at the Euro finals. But Wales have just shot themselves in the foot.

The Dragons drew away to Armenia at the weekend while Croatia beat Latvia, and those two results left Wales in third place in Group D, two points behind Croatia and now staring the peril of the play-offs in the face. Group leaders Turkiye thumped Latvia last time out and warmed up for this tie with an impressive 3-2 win over Germany. 

The nerves will be jangling at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday; but not in the away end where the Turkish fans will be having a party.   

Talking Points

Wales have lost control of their own destiny

At the start of this Group D campaign Page’s team was joint favourites alongside Croatia but, after a decidedly mixed set of performances, they are now relying on results elsewhere. Firstly they have to find a way to beat the group leaders and then they must hope that Croatia fail to win in their home tie against fourth placed Armenia. Should both Wales and Croatia lose then the Dragons would drop into the obscurity of fourth place, and that was unthinkable back in March.

Croatia fans will be watching the Wales vs Turkey updates, of course they will; but I expect Luka Modric and his team to do the business for themselves.

So how did it go wrong for Wales on Saturday?

Well, the Dragons went 1-0 down early in their match in Yerevan, when Lucas Zelerayan hit a blistering drive past Danny Ward with just five minutes on the clock. Wales know Zelerayan well, because he scored twice when the two teams met in Cardiff. Only an own goal from the head of Nair Tiknizyan breached the Armenian defence, he diverted a long throw from Burnley’s Connor Roberts and that is a weapon Page may well employ against Turkey.     

Skipper Ben Davies will do all he can to rally his troops in Cardiff. Back in the Premier League Davies’ club side Tottenham Hotspur are having a great season, but his country needs him now. He’s a born leader, a passionate Welshman and has a cool head in high pressure situations.    

Wales are a full 25 places ahead of Turkiye in the FIFA rankings, 18^th to 43^rd, but the way this campaign has gone you could easily believe it was the other way around. The Wales vs Turkiye betting odds say Wales are the more likely team to win, but it won’t be easy.  

Turkiye all set for Germany  

With five wins, one draw and one defeat Turkiye have had a dominant campaign, the only blemish being a loss to early favourites Croatia, but they exacted their revenge over the Croats in October. And Montella’s team showed just how good they are with a 3-2 friendly win away to Germany at the weekend. Ferdi Kadioglu, 18 year old Kenan Yildiz and Yusif Sari were all on target against the 2024 Euros hosts. It was Julian Nagelsmann’s first defeat on home soil as head coach, and Turkiye have put down a marker in readiness for the finals.            

Premier League fans will know all about defender Caglar Soyuncu who transferred to Atletico Madrid in the summer, following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League. He’s a commanding centre back with 55 caps under his belt and he’s comfortable on the ball, able to make runs into the opposition half to launch attacks.

Elsewhere in the team, Fenerbahce star Ismail Yuksek is a midfield player who oozes class, and Wales will have a close eye on the Turkiye playmaker.   

History

Turkiye have qualified for the Euros for the third time in succession and the sixth overall, with their best performance coming in 2008 when they reached the semi-finals, only to be beaten by a late goal in a 3-2 defeat by Germany.

Wales are trying to qualify for the third time, having made it first in 2016 and reaching the semi-final, losing 2-0 to Portugal in the semi-final. The Dragons qualified again in 2020 and reached the Round of 16, so Page and his boys have something to live up to.     

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 2.20 Wales are favourites to win this home game while Turkey can be backed at 3.25. The visitors will be relaxed but hard to beat and I think Wales will fall short.  

 

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