Croatia will host Turkey as the top two from Group D face each other in Euro 2024 qualifying. In this international period, the two countries are tied on 10 points each. Croatia has a game in hand and a psychological edge because of its earlier victory in Turkey.
Preview (Croatia vs. Turkey)
Croatia leads Group D and has not yet suffered a loss in their quest to qualify for a sixth Euros. They have played one fewer match due to participation in this summer’s UEFA Nations League finals. Zlatko Dalic’s team finished as World Cup runners-up in 2018 and more recently as Nations League champions. They are ultimately seeking to shatter the glass ceiling and win the tournament in Germany next year. Some of their seasoned veterans finally leave the stage. While Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric may be nearing the end of their careers, Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City was another Croatian ‘untouchable’ who scored twice in their 2-0 triumph against Turkey in March.
Only Latvia is completely out of the race. Wales and Armenia both have seven points after five games. They might seize the opportunity if either Croatia or Turkey falters this month or the following month. Prior to completing their campaign against Latvia and Armenia in November, the Kockasti still have a difficult trip to Cardiff ahead of them as they attempt to preserve their three-point lead within the crucial top two of the group. All three of the sides’ prior games took place in Croatia. Former Fiorentina manager and Italy striker Vincenzo Montella will undoubtedly face a baptism of fire in his first game as Turkey manager after stepping up from his position as Adana Demirspor’s coach.
The Crescent-Stars required a last-second goal to defeat the Baltic minnows in June. Sunday’s matchup with Latvia should be a simpler game, thus all eyes will be on Montella’s managerial debut. He just succeeded Stefan Kuntz as Turkey’s national coach. Istanbul’s “big three” have a wide range of talents thanks to record Super Lig spending during the most recent transfer window, but Turkey’s successes abroad have recently waned.
Team News
Croatia has selected an experienced team this month. The team is led by 168-cap captain Luka Modric. Ivan Perisic will be sidelined for some time after tearing his ACL while serving as a Tottenham Hotspur player. Due to injury, Feyenoord winger Luka Ivanusec, who scored in the 5-0 victory against Latvia, is also absent. Josip Brekalo of Fiorentina could start for the visitors. Merih Demiral of Turkey must serve a ban as a result of his accumulation of bookings. It allowed Vincenzo Montella to pair Caglar Soyuncu and Kaan Ayhan in the center of defense. Due to the continued absence of Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and the absence of Cengiz Under, Kerem Akturkoglu of Galatasaray will serve as the team’s primary creative force.
Altay Bayindir, a reserve for Manchester United, and Ugurcan Cakir, a goalkeeper for Trabzonspor, are vying for the starting job, while Hakan Calhanoglu captains the Crescent-Stars from midfield. Turkey, who were named co-hosts of the 2032 Euros this week, will play two more important matches before the championship game since Vincenzo Montella’s first match is expected to result in a loss. With yet another victory at home, Croatia can extend its lead over the competition in Group D, but their opponents may find themselves in the middle of a three-way fight for second place.
Croatia 2 – 1 Turkey
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