Turkey will welcome the Netherlands to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Wednesday for the first Group G clash of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Europe. Featuring in the same group as a promising Norwegian side, both countries will be eager to accumulate as many points as possible in order to avoid having a disappointing campaign.
For the Turks, the upcoming game presents a fresh platform for them to attempt at progressing to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002. They approach Wednesday's game looking to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat to Hungary in their most recent outing.
Prior to that, they had gone on a five-game unbeaten run, with all the games ending in draws. This included meetings with Germany and Croatia. Across the last 21 matches, Senol Gunes's charges have recorded just three defeats.
The Netherlands, on the other hand, will look to live up to their tag as favorites to top the group with a good performance in their opening group game. The Oranje have not enjoyed the best of forms under new boss Frank de Boer but are gradually finding their feet.
In the early days of his appointment, the 2010 World Cup finalists lost in a friendly against Mexico and drew their subsequent three games. Since then, they have registered wins against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Poland. As a result, they are unbeaten in their last five outings and will be poised to make it six against Turkey on Tuesday.
Head to head
The last meeting between Turkey and the Netherlands was in September 2015. The former won what was a European Championship qualifier on home soil via a 3-0 scoreline.
Team news
Turkey will be without star playmaker Cengiz Under when they welcome Netherlands for their opening World Cup qualifying game. For the visitors, Memphis Depay has been cleared to join the squad after almost missing out as a result of the traveling restrictions imposed by French Ligue 1 clubs. Jasper Cillissen is expected to return in post after missing the last international break through injury.
Predicted starting XI
Turkey: Gunok; Celik, Soyuncu, Demiral, Erkin; Yazici, Turfan, Yokuslu, Calhanoglu, Karaman; Tosun
Netherlands: Cillessen; Dumfries, De Ligt, Blind, Wijndal; De Jong, Klaassen; Berghuis, Wijnaldum, Depay; De Jong.
Broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
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