Turkey Euro 2021 Tips and Betting Odds

Welcome to BettingOdds.com's Euro 2021 profile series, where we'll be counting down to the tournament with an in-depth look at the betting opportunities for each of the countries involved.

After failing to qualify for a World Cup for 48 years, none of us will forget Turkey’s tale of 2002 that took them to a third place finish at the World Cup in Korea and Japan. This current crop will be trying to emulate the success of the national side earlier this century when they followed up their World Cup achievements with a third place finish at Euro 2008.

Author's Verdict

After an impressive display in a World Cup qualifier in March that saw Turkey come out 4-2 winners against the Netherlands, Senol Gunes’ side showed they mean business ahead of this summer’s Euros. This current crop has some talented players in the side starting with centre back pairing of Caglar Soyuncu and Ozan Kabak.

In midfield they have plenty of creativity in Hakan Calhanoglu and Yusuf Yazici whilst the experienced Burak Yilmaz is still firing in the goals at the head of proceedings. I’m predicting that Turkey will get out of this group rather easily and I’d be more than happy to include the 8/11 that is on show in places for them to qualify, in any accumulators for the group stage.

Confirmed Turkey squad for Euro 2021

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Fenerbahçe), Uğurcan Çakır (Trabzonspor), Mert Günok (İstanbul Başakşehir)

Defenders: Kaan Ayhan (Sassuolo), Zeki Çelik (LOSC Lille), Merih Demiral (Juventus), Ozan Kabak (Liverpool), Umut Meraş (Le Havre), Mert Müldür (Sassuolo), Çağlar Söyüncü (Leicester), Rıdvan Yılmaz (Beşiktaş)

Midfielders: Taylan Antalyalı (Galatasaray), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (AC Milan), Halil Dervişoğlu (Brentford), İrfan Can Kahveci (Fenerbahçe), Orkun Kökçü (Feyenoord), Abdülkadir Ömür (Trabzonspor), Dorukhan Toköz (Beşiktaş), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahçe), Okay Yokuşlu (West Brom)

Forwards: Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Galatasaray), Kenan Karaman (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Enes Ünal (Getafe), Cengiz Ünder (Leicester), Yusuf Yazıcı (LOSC Lille), Burak Yılmaz (LOSC Lille)

Top three scorers & shot takers this season - Club & Country

Burak Yilmaz, Lille

• Goals: 22
• Shots per game: 2.2
• Shots on target per game: 1.1

Yusuf Yazici, Lille

• Goals: 14
• Shots per game: 1.7
• Shots on target per game: 0.7

Kenan Karaman, Fortuna Dusseldorf

• Goals: 11
• Shots per game: 1.8
• Shots on target per game: 0.8

Top Three Most Carded This Season - Club & Country Combined 

Ozan Kabak, Liverpool

• Yellow Cards: 11
• Red Cards: 1
• Fouls per game: 1.4

Okay Yokuslu, West Brom

• Yellow cards: 9
• Red Cards: 1
• Fouls per game: 1.6

Mahmut Tekdemir, Istanbul Basaksehir

• Yellow cards: 8
• Red Cards: 1
• Fouls per game: 0.7

Top Three Key Players

Burak Yilmaz, Lille

At the time of writing we are amidst one of the best title races that the French top flight has seen in many years. Lille sit top with just five games remaining, however only three points separate the top four clubs in the table. No player for Les Dogues has scored more goals in the league this season than Burak Yilmaz with ten to his name. The Turkish captain is the top scorer in his current national side with 28 goals in 66 appearances. Yilmaz may now be 35 but his 16 goals in all competitions and four assists prove he’s still plenty to offer for Turkey.

Hakan Calhanoglu, AC Milan

Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has picked up more man of the match awards for AC Milan than their number ten, Hakan Calhangolu this season. The midfielder has played a key role for Milan this term and his creativity has been a big factor in helping them to what should be their highest finish for eight years. The 27-year-old has scored six goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions this term and could be one of the key players if his side are to advance from the group stage.

Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester City

Both of Turkey’s first choice centre-backs currently play their club football in the Premier League and Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu is one half of that duo. The 24-year-old already has 33 caps for his country and looks set for a long and prosperous international career. Despite missing a large chunk of this campaign through injury Soyuncu has appeared on 16 occasions in the league and his strength and solidity will be called upon by his country this summer.

Young Gun

Ozan Kabak, Liverpool

Even before their defensive injury woes of this season, Liverpool had Schalke’s Ozan Kabak on their radar. The central defender signed on loan in January and his partnership with Nat Phillips has played more minutes for the Reds than any other pairing. For a young man of just 21 years of age Kabak has put in some good performances under difficult circumstances which should put him in good stead for the Euros. He’s also one to keep an eye on in the ‘to be carded’ markets at this summer’s tournament after having picked up ten yellows and one red card in 33 games this season. 

Turkey’s Outright Odds at Euro 2021

Turkey have twice finished third at a major tournament in their history and both of those came in the noughties. Their third placed finish at Euro 2008 is the best they have achieved at a European Championship and after going out in the group stage in the most recent renewal, they will be looking for improvement this time round.

50/1 is the price available for Turkey to be crowned champions this summer, with each-way terms being offered as two places at 1/2 odds from most bookmakers. 

Turkey’s Group Odds at Euro 2021

Turkey have been drawn in Group A, along with Italy, Switzerland and Wales. They are joint second favourites along with Swiss at 5/1 to top the group and are 4/7 to qualify. 

The Gaffer

Senol Gunes has twice lifted the Turkish league title with Besiktas but is now enjoying his second spell as head coach of the national team. He’s most famously known for the remarkable achievement of taking Turkey to a third place finish at the World Cup in 2002. 

Turkey’s record at the World Cup & Euros - Last 25 years

• 2018 World Cup, did not qualify
• 2016 Euros, group stage
• 2014 World Cup, did not qualify
• 2012 Euros, did not qualify
• 2010 World Cup, did not qualify
• 2008 Euros, Semi-finals, third
• 2006 World Cup, did not qualify
• 2004 Euros, did not qualify
• 2002 World Cup, semi finals, third
• 2000 Euros, quarter-finals
• 1998 World Cup, did not qualify
• 1996 Euros, group stage