Yalçın banks on Enes Ünal to spark Turkey's Nations League revival

Newly appointed Turkey head coach Sergen Yalçın has confirmed that striker Enes Ünal will lead the line against Belgium in İzmir on Thursday evening, as the Crescent‑Stars look to rescue their UEFA Nations League A campaign after four consecutive defeats. The match offers a chance to halt the slide and keep Turkey’s hopes of avoiding a relegation play‑out alive.

Group pressure and play‑out hopes

Speaking at his pre‑match press conference, Yalçın acknowledged the precarious nature of Turkey’s group standing, noting that points in the final two fixtures against Belgium and France are vital for a play‑out spot. “Our situation in the group is clear, you all know where we stand,” he said. He added that if the side can pick up a point, there is a chance to reach the play‑out, stressing that the squad has only had three training sessions and two tactical workouts.

Addressing questions about a missing focal point, Yalçın declared, “You kept asking if there was no striker—I brought one with me,” confirming Enes will start as a centre‑forward. He also confirmed that Brighton full‑back Ferdi Kadıoğlu is fully fit and will start. Zeki Çelik is expected to feature for only twenty to thirty minutes off the bench as he regains match sharpness after injury.

Yalçın explained that Göztepe’s Arda Okan Kurtulan remains ineligible because his international allegiance paperwork is incomplete. He insisted his 26‑man squad was chosen for positional balance, not personal bias, despite the omission of İrfan Can Kahveci.