Euro 2024: Czechia and Turkiye Duel for the Second Spot Behind Portugal

Czech Republic vs Turkey

The Euro 2024 matchup between Czech Republic and Turkey will most likely determine who takes the second spot behind Portugal in Group F, based on the most recent set of Euro 2024 results.

With Portugal having already qualified after winning their first two group stage games, they can afford to take it easy against Georgia, although many pundits still expect Roberto Martinez’s men to win on Wednesday.

The other team that has won in Group F is Turkey after beating Georgia in the opener, but after losing to Portugal last time out, Vincenzo Montella’s side needs one more positive result to make it to the next round.

Beating the Czech Republic is going to do it for Turkey, but if they don’t, their passage to the knockouts might get a little more complicated than they want to.

 

Talking Points

Czechia dealt with huge injury blow

With one loss and one draw in the first two games, the Czech Republic are in danger of bowing out of Euro 2024, and it doesn’t help that they will miss their best striker on Wednesday.

The Czech media reported on Monday that Patrik Schick, the joint-leading scorer at Euro 2020 and the one who scored the equaliser against Georgia on Saturday, is expected to be sidelined against Turkey due to a leg injury.

The Bayer Leverkusen star limped off shortly after scoring Czechia’s only goal against Georgia and was replaced by Mojmil Chytil, who is expected to lead the frontline on Wednesday.

Losing Schick is definitely tough for Czechia since he came into this tournament in great form. He was a key figure in Bayer Leverkusen’s DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga triumphs this year, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.

With Schick unavailable for Ivan Hasek, Mojmil Chytil, Vaclav Cerny, Antonin Barak, and Adam Hlozek will have to shoulder the offencive cudgels for Czechia.

West Ham United duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, meanwhile, will also have to step up since they have been rather anonymous in their first two games so far.

 

Guler should be ready to go for Turkey

Vincenzo Montella didn’t name Arda Guler in the starting XI last time out due to fatigue, which was a big reason why they were defeated by Portugal.

Now with his legs underneath him, the Real Madrid youngster is expected to regain his starting spot for Turkey to displace Yunus Akgun, and he’ll rejoin Orkan Kokcu and Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield.

While Guler has taken the spotlight here in the Euros, overlooking Calhanoglu is a bad idea for Czechia since he has been productive in this competition, leading the team in touches (191), successful passes (149), passes into the final third (20), and possessions won (14).

Abdulkerim Bardakci will have to serve his one-game suspension against the Czech Republic after he picked up his second yellow card of the competition against Portugal on Sunday, so Merih Demiral will take his place at centre-half.

 

History

Turkey are enjoying a three-game winning streak over the Czech Republic across all competitions. Czechia’s last win over the Crescent Stars was a 2-1 result during the Euro 2016 qualifiers in October 2014.

These two teams last met in an international friendly match in November 2022, when Turkey notched a 2-1 victory in Gaziantep. Enes Unal and Hakan Calhanoglu scored for the Crescent Stars, while Vaclav Cerny found the back of the net for Czechia.

Turkey have lost seven of their last nine matches in the Euros (W2), while the Czech Republic have only won one of their last eight group stage games in the same competitions (D3, L4).

If Czechia lose or draw to Turkey on Wednesday, they will have failed to win all three group stage games at a single edition of the Euros for the first time since 2016.

 

Betting Tip

The Euro 2024 odds here at SBOTOP expect a tight battle between the Czech Republic and Turkey on Wednesday. Czechia were given the slight edge at 2.57 in the 1X2 market, but we believe that the Crescent Stars will eke out a victory and secure their berth to the next round at a solid value of 2.69.

Total Goal 2-3 at 1.93 is going to do it for Turkey, especially with the Czech Republic’s frontline depth compromised, while Under 3.00 at 1.57 also sounds like a viable alternative other than our recommended bet above. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 2-1 in favour of Turkey – the result of their most recent meeting – is on offer at 9.80.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.