Turkey have recalled Arda Guler to their starting line-up to face Czech Republic, who are without Patrik Schick.
A point in today’s group decider would see Turkey through to the knockout stages at a major tournament for the first time since 2008, as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Portugal.
Guler was dropped to the bench in that match, coming on for the final 20 minutes, but Turkey boss Vincenzo Montella confirmed after the game that the 19-year-old was struggling with an injury issue.
"Arda wasn't fit to play I can say clearly he could not play more than 30 minutes without increasing the risk. So there was also a temptation of not putting him in 20 minutes from the end, but finally I gave in because good players must play my opinion," Montella told reporters.
Turkey have him back in the starting lineup against Czech Republic, with Yunus Akgun the man to miss out if Guler does return.
Samet Akaydin, who scored a disastrous own goal in the defeat to Portugal, was a doubt but starts after he was forced off late in that match with an injury issue. Merih Demiral replaces the suspended Abdulkerim Bardakci.
Czech Republic are without Schick, after he suffered a calf injury in the draw with Georgia.
The striker scored his side’s equaliser but pulled up in the second-half and was forced to immediately come off, and is expected to be ruled out of the match against Turkey. Mojmir Chytil is the one to lead the line in Schick’s absence.
Czech Republic XI: Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci, Coufal; Soucek, Provod, D. Jurasek; Barak, Hlozek, Chytil
Subs: Zima, Vitik, Sevcik, Schick, Kuchta, Doudera, Kovar, Cerny, Chory, Lingr, Cerv, Jaros, Vlcek, Sulc, M. Jurasek
Turkey XI: Gunok; Muldur, Demiral, Akaydin, Kadioglu; Calhanoglu, Ozcan; Guler, Yuksek, Yildiz; Yilmaz
Subs: Celik, Yokuslu, Kokcu, Akturkoglu, Tosun, Yazici, Bayindir, Kaplan, Kahveci, Ayhan, Cakir, Kilicsoy, Akgun, Yildirim
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday June 26, 2024
Venue: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg.
TV channel and live stream: ITV4
