On June 19 at 0:00, in the first round of Group F, Turkey will face Georgia at the BVB stadium in Dortmund.
Turkey is currently ranked 40th in FIFA. Their best performance in the Euros was reaching the semi-finals in 2008, where they were narrowly defeated by Germany. After being eliminated in the group stages in both the 2016 and 2020 editions, the “Star and Crescent Army” aims for a revival in this Euro Cup.
In the qualifiers, Turkey showed promise. Despite the challenges from Croatia and Wales, they secured three wins and one loss in the first four rounds, setting the foundation for their qualification. Although internal unrest emerged after a draw with Armenia, the Turkish Football Federation promptly replaced the coach, with Italian manager Cesare Montella guiding the team to two wins and one draw in the final three rounds, topping the group ahead of Croatia.
Coach Montella, a former Roman striker, began his coaching career in 2011 with AS Roma. Since leading Turkey through the Euro qualifiers, he chose not to schedule friendly matches against weaker opponents but instead faced off against stronger European teams in 2024, drawing with Italy and losing to Hungary, Austria, and Poland.
Following the likes of Hakan Şükür, Stürtz, Rustu, and Emre, who won the World Cup bronze, Turkish football has witnessed another talent surge. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu excels in Serie A, while young stars Cengiz Ünder and İrfan Can Kahveci are groomed for stardom at Real Madrid and Juventus, respectively. Ömer Toprak has established himself as a key midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, and Merih Demiral will anchor the defense. Currently, only Fenerbahçe forward Vedat Muriqi is nursing an injury, with Burak Yılmaz of Galatasaray expected to lead the attack.
Georgia, ranked 75th in FIFA, will make its debut in a major continental tournament under the guidance of French football legend Willy Sagnol. This is a golden opportunity for the lowest-ranked team in the Euros to showcase their abilities on the world stage.
In the qualifiers, Georgia found themselves in a challenging Group A alongside Spain, Norway, Scotland, and Cyprus, finishing fourth without a direct qualification spot. Thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League, Georgia earned a place in the playoffs, defeating Luxembourg and Greece to secure a spot in the Euro Cup finals.
Sagnol, a decorated player with both the French national team and Bayern Munich, hasn’t yet achieved significant coaching success. He took charge of the Georgian national team in 2021 to continue his coaching aspirations. Georgia, despite not being a top contender, possesses stars like Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who leads the team’s attack alongside Mikhel Kukhareli of Metz. Mamadashvili of Valencia will guard the goal, while towering center-back Giorgi Kveliava overcomes injuries to strengthen the defense. Watford’s Tornike Chakvetadze is set to occupy a starting position in midfield.
In Group F, Portugal is the clear favorite to top the group, leaving Turkey and Georgia in a fierce battle for the second spot. The tactical battle between Montella and Sagnol, two legendary coaches, promises to be captivating.
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