Turkey v France, Italy v Belgium, and more: Nations League clockwatch – live
⚽ Updates from Friday evening’s Nations League games ⚽ Live scoreboard Read Football Daily Mail Michael Let’s unpack those teams a little. Turkey are missing
⚽ Updates from Friday evening’s Nations League games ⚽ Live scoreboard Read Football Daily Mail Michael Let’s unpack those teams a little. Turkey are missing one of their star players, Kenan Yildiz, who is sidelined with a long-term injury. Yildiz normally operates on the left wing for Juventus, but with him out of action, Montella has leaned into this wing-back system, which seems to lean heavily on Kadioglu on the left.
The 24-year-old won Brighton’s player of season last year and has quietly turned into one of the best left backs in the Premier League. Much rests of Arda Güler, in the No 10 position. Expect Turkey to have five at the back against France, when they are out of possession. Zinedine Zidane’s first France XI throws no huge surprises, although notable additions include Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert, who earns his second cap, four years after making his international debut.
Interesting that Zidane also favours Lacroix as the replacement for the injured Saliba at centre-back. Jacquet and Yoro have to make do on the bench. Cherki gets the nod in midfield, alongside Rabiot and Manu Koné, who has been in sublime form for Roma at the start of this season. There is no room for Tchouameni or Kanté in this new-look squad, even if the XI is mostly unchanged.
Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) also miss out. Continue reading...
