Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker:
Hoping to widen their buffer at the top of the Group D table on Monday night, Turkey will welcome Wales to Samsun.
Turkey
Starting with the hosts, while Turkey might have signed off March’s international break with a 2-0 qualifying loss at home against Croatia, the Crescent Stars certainly came roaring back over the weekend. Eventually claiming what was a remarkable last-gasp 3-2 victory away at Latvia, Stefan Kuntz s men suddenly find themselves tipped as a standout pick to punch their European Championship ticket. Marking their return to Samsun sat at the top of the Group D table, the former Germany coach should find the mood in his camp at a real high. Collecting six points from their first three qualifying appearances, Turkey have now won four of their last five matchups across all competitions. Likewise, signing off 2022 with a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic in a friendly showdown on home soil, Monday’s hosts could be smelling the chance to make a similar statement here.
Team News
Playing the whole 90 minutes away at Latvia over the weekend, Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu will once again have a key role to play on Monday night. Notching his first qualifying strike in Riga and becoming a key part of Kuntz’s attack, ex-Leicester misfit Cengiz Under will spearhead Turkey’s attack here.
Coming off the bench and bagging that stunning last-gasp winner a few days ago, Fenerbahce midfielder Irfan Can Kahveci will be hoping for a full recall in Samsun.
Wales
As for the visitors, although Wales might have opened their qualifying campaign with an eye-catching flurry, Rob Page’s struggling squad came crashing back down to earth in a spectacular fashion over the weekend. Missing out on a golden opportunity as they eventually slumped to a 4-2 loss at the hands of Armenia, the Dragons are now tipped as a real outsider in their bid to find a route out of Group D. Coming under plenty of scrutiny as they picked up just a single point during their downbeat World Cup adventure over the winter, Page’s squad are seeking a much-needed boost. In fact, aside from a 1-0 victory at home against Latvia on March 28th, that is the only win that Wales have collected from any of their previous 11 appearances across all competitions. With that extended struggle stemming over the past 12 months, the Dragons face what could be a must-win showdown here.
Team News
Shown a second-half red card against Armenia over the weekend, Wales will be unable to call upon the suspended Kieffer Moore on Monday night. Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw could be handed the chance to spearhead Page’s charge in Samsun.
Despite only lasting 66 minutes in Cardiff a few days ago, Aaron Ramsey will once again start at the heart of Wales’ midfield here. While Danny Ward might have been dropped for each of Leicester’s final 12 Premier League appearances last season, Danny Ward will once again start between the sticks.
Key Factors to Consider
