Match Prediction: Czechia vs Türkiye UEFA European Championship 2024
Before a ball was kicked in Group F, it was widely believed that these two teams would be fighting for second place. Not everything goes according to plan, of course, which is what makes the European champions so exciting. However, with a very strong Portugal side in the group, combined with a Georgian side who finished fourth in their qualifying group, it is easy to understand why this game is likely to be the most important in Group F, as the winners are likely to advance to the last 16. At the same time, the losers are likely to be flying home.
How did they qualify?
Turkey would have been delighted with how their European qualifying campaign played out. In a tough group with Croatia and Wales, they were able to play superbly and finish in first place. With plenty of attacking flair on show, maybe Turkey could be considered one of the group's dark horses.
Czechia might not have qualified with as much swagger, but we imagine they would also be pleased with their qualifying campaign. They finished in second place on goal difference, just behind Albania and four points ahead of group favourites Poland. They only conceded six goals in eight games, which should give them plenty of encouragement heading into this tournament.
Team Analysis
During their qualifying campaigns, the goalscoring records of these two teams were nearly identical. This is a surprise, considering that this Turkish side plays with slightly more flair than the Czechs.
What this tells us, however, is how well both teams are set up. To go far in major football tournaments, you cannot afford to give goals away cheaply, and it's evident that both managers know the importance of being tight at the back. This might sound like we are previewing a game that might not be the most exciting, but the game should be played on a knife edge, and both teams have players capable of making a difference, so this game is intriguing.
Players to watch
This Czech side is full of solid professionals, so we have decided to highlight a man who has contributed to Bayer Leverkusen's historic season. From the Czech perspective, they hope this man will provide a spark of brilliance.
Patrik Schick: The 28-year-old has a more than helpful goalscoring record for his country and has played a role in a record-breaking season at the domestic level.
This Turkish side is filled with promising players. We have decided to focus on one man who has been lighting it up recently at one of the biggest football clubs in the world.
Arda Güler: The 19-year-old has something special. These are not our words, but Real Madrid and all-time great Carlo Ancelloti. So far, he has only played a handful of games for his country but should be in the starting 11, considering his recent form.
Prediction
This is one of those group games that could go either way. No result would surprise us, but if we were forced into a corner and had to pick a winner, we would slightly favour Turkey. Their team has more flair, and they did somewhat better in qualifying.