The Red Devils resume their UEFA Nations League campaign on November 12, facing a Turkish side under new leadership as they look to secure their status as a top seed in upcoming European Championship qualifying.
The match in Izmir serves as a rematch for both nations, with Belgium aiming to maintain momentum following a 3-0 victory over their opponents earlier in the campaign, as reported by VoetbalPrimeur.be.
Turkey enters the match with Sergen Yalçın at the helm, following his appointment as head coach on October 20. Yalçın, who previously secured both the league title and the Turkish Cup with his club side in the 2020/2021 season, replaces Vincenzo Montella, according to VoetbalPrimeur.be. The coaching change follows a difficult period for the team, which recorded a 0-12 points tally in their Nations League group.
A Milli Takım'ın Belçika ve Fransa maçları aday kadrosu açıklandı. Sergen Yalçın; Kerem Aktürkoğlu ve İrfan Can Kahveci'yi Milli Takım kadrosuna çağırmadı. Berke Özer, İrfan Can Eğribayat, Levent Mercan ve Cengiz Ünder'i ise davet etti. pic.twitter.com/HaViBMZx6z
The new coach has wasted no time in reshaping the squad, announcing an expansive preliminary selection of 47 players. This roster notably excludes flank attacker Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who had not missed a national team selection since his 2021 debut, and Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, currently on loan at Celta Vigo, as noted by Voetbalkrant.com.
Despite their recent struggles, the Turkish squad retains significant international experience. The defense features Ozan Kabak, who has logged over 100 appearances for TSG Hoffenheim, and Merih Demiral, currently playing for Saudi club Al-Ahli. On the flanks, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Ferdi Kadıoğlu provides versatility, while Galatasaray attacker Barış Alper Yılmaz remains a primary threat due to his pace and physical presence, reported VoetbalPrimeur.be.
The match affects Belgium's seeding for future European Championship qualifying rounds. While the team remains focused on the immediate challenge in Izmir, the technical staff, including Mark van Bommel, is expected to address the media ahead of the match to discuss the team’s tactical approach, according to Sporza.
Players like Youri Tielemans are expected to play a central role against a motivated Turkish side seeking a reversal of their earlier 3-0 defeat.
Following the fixture on November 12, Turkey is scheduled to conclude its Nations League group stage with a match against France on November 15.
The national team had their first training session ahead of their UEFA Nations League matches against Belgium in Izmir on November 12 and France away on November 15. #TeamGüler #Bizimçocuklar pic.twitter.com/JNLXW8p6PY
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