Nations League | League B

Oct 11, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu

Turkey vs Montenegro

Match preview

Since making it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in the summer, Turkey have had an unbeaten start to their Nations League campaign. They followed up a goalless draw with Wales with a 3-1 home victory over Iceland.

Kerem Akturkoglu was the standout player in the match against Iceland. He scored a fantastic hat-trick in front of the Goztepe crowd, including a remarkable second goal from long range. This helped the Crescent-Stars move to the top of League B Group 4, tied with Wales on goal difference.

Vincenzo Montella has won seven of his 15 international matches during his 12-month tenure as Turkey boss. He's hoping to guide his team to successive promotions in the Nations League after they finished top of League C in the previous campaign.

Before last month's win against Iceland, Turkey hadn't played at home since October of last year. But they've got a strong home record, with seven wins in their last 10 home internationals.

Turkey are currently ranked 26th in the world by FIFA and have never lost to Montenegro, who they play against on Friday. They've won their last four meetings with Montenegro, most recently beating them 2-1 in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Montenegro have scored in each of their last three meetings with Turkey, netting five times in total, but they haven't yet beaten the Crescent-Stars. They've also struggled a bit in the last four months of this year, with a dip in form across all competitions.

After winning their first two games of 2024 – friendlies against Belarus and North Macedonia – the Brave Falcons have since lost four games in a row, including their opening two Nations League matches against Iceland (0-2) and Wales (1-2) last month.

Robert Prosinecki, who was brought in as head coach in February, has the job of turning Montenegro's fortunes around. They're trying to avoid being relegated from League B, like they were in the previous campaign. They only avoided that by the skin of their teeth, thanks to goal difference.

Montenegro are currently ranked 74th in the world by FIFA. They're hoping to avoid setting a new unwanted national record when they face Turkey on Friday. Since becoming an independent football nation in 2007, the Brave Falcons have never lost five consecutive matches in a row in all competitions.

Recent Performance

Turkey Nations League form:DW

Turkey form (all competitions):LWWLDW

Montenegro Nations League form:LL

Montenegro form (all competitions):WWLLLL

Injuries and suspensions

Turkey

No sidelined players

Montenegro

20 Milutin Osmajic

Possible starting lineups

Turkey(4-2-3-1)

1Günok(GK)

18Müldür(DR)

14Bardakci(DC)

3Demiral(DC)

13Elmali(DL)

10Çalhanoglu(DMC)

6Kökçü(DMC)

8Güler(AMR)

11Yildiz(AMC)

7Aktürkoglu(AML)

9Nayir(FW)

Montenegro(4-2-3-1)

1Mijatovic(GK)

23Marusic(DR)

5Sipcic(DC)

19Rubezic(DC)

2Vukcevic(DL)

16Jovovic(DMC)

8Brnovic(DMC)

18Camaj(AMR)

10Jovetic(AMC)

11Krstovic(AML)

9Mugosa(FW)