Wales vs Turkey Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | League B Group 4
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It is a new dawn for the Welsh national team with former Wales captain Craig Bellamy now at the helm after replacing Rob Page and he begins his reign against UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey to kick off their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 6th September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – S4C / US – FOX Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer or S4C Online / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
WALES PREVIEW: THE BELLAMY ERA
Under the management of Rob Page, Wales reached both UEFA EURO 2020 as well as UEFA EURO 2024, whilst also qualifying for their first ever FIFA World Cup in over 50 years when they qualified for Qatar a couple of years ago.
However, it was widely accepted that performances and results were not of requisite quality and a damning goalless draw with Gibraltar in June sealed his fate with Craig Bellamy, former assistant to Vincent Kompany at both Anderlecht and Burnley, taking the reins.
TURKEY PREVIEW: MONTELLA TO CONTINUE HIS PROGRESSION
Former Italy international forward Vincenzo Montella has an exciting and young group of Turkish talent at his disposal and they were involved in pretty much all of the most entertaining games of the tournament at UEFA EURO 2024.
From beating Georgia 3-1 and Czechia 2-1 in thrilling group stage matches, they then edged past a very strong Austrian side by two goals to one before having their run to the last eight ended by the Netherlands by two goals to one in Berlin after taking a first-half lead.
WALES TEAM NEWS: RAMSEY REMAINS CAPTAIN
Cardiff City midfielder Aaron Ramsey has remained as captain for Wales as they take on Turkey at the Cardiff City Stadium. Chris Mepham is an injury concern for Bellamy for this weekend after joining for Sunderland on loan last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ward; Williams, Cabango, Rodon, Davies; James, Ampadu; Johnson, Ramsey, Thomas; Harris
UNAVAILABLE: Mepham (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
TURKEY TEAM NEWS: A FEW ISSUES
Centre-back Merih Demiral is suspended for their opening UEFA Nations League encounter with captain Hakan Calhanoglu an injury concern for the Turks alongside attacker and reported Fulham target throughout the summer, Semih Kilicsoy. Ferdi Kadioglu is also out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Gunok; Muldur, Bardakci, Soyuncu, Elmali; Yuksek, Ozcan; Yilmaz, Kokcu, Guler; Yildiz
UNAVAILABLE: Demiral (Suspended), Calhanoglu (Injured), Kilicsoy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
WALES VS TURKEY PREDICTION
As mentioned, Bellamy has come through his coaching career alongside Vincent Kompany and he has also himself expressed a desire to play football in a progressive way with an emphasis on what would be a passing style of football. Turkey showed themselves to be the entertainers of Europe this summer so that may well benefit them with their attackers going the other way. An entertaining first game to kick off Bellamy’s reign seems a likely bet.
WALES VS TURKEY TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
