Turkey Replace Banned Demiral With Akaydin Against Gakpo’s Netherlands
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella replaced banned defender Merih Demiral with the returning Samet Akaydin for their Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Demiral scored twice against Austria in the last 16 but UEFA suspended him for two matches after making a controversial salute during celebrations, associated with Turkish right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves.
Akaydin missed the previous match through suspension, along with captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who also returns to the line-up.
Real Madrid teenager Arda Guler starts up front for Turkey, looking to continue his fine run of form.
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Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman stuck with the same team that thrashed Romania 3-0 in the last 16.
The coach had changed his right winger in every match during the tournament to this point but this time stuck with Steven Bergwijn, despite Donyell Malen’s brace to put Romania to bed.
Netherlands’ main threat at the Olympiastadion in Berlin is Liverpool left winger Cody Gakpo, who is the tournament’s joint top scorer on three goals, while Memphis Depay continues in the centre of attack.
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Starting line-ups:
Netherlands (4-3-3)
Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk (capt), Nathan Ake; Tijjani Reijnders, Xavi Simons, Jerdy Schouten; Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo
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Coach: Ronald Koeman (NED)
Turkey (5-4-1)
Mert Gunok; Mert Muldur, Kaan Ayhan, Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu; Baris Alper Yilmaz, Salih Ozcan, Hakan Calhanoglu (capt), Kenan Yildiz; Arda Guler
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Coach: Vincenzo Montella (ITA)
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
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