Prediction: Turkey vs Latvia

Verdict: Turkey half-time/full-time

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Looking to wrap up their ticket to EURO 24 this weekend, a high-flying Turkey will welcome Latvia to Adana on Sunday night.

Turkey

Starting with the hosts, marking their return to EURO 24 qualifying duties with a famous performance on foreign in midweek, Turkey will certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Eventually landing a stunning 1-0 victory away at World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, the Crescent Stars now sit on the verge of punching their return to the major tournament stage. Only continuing to gain a string of public praise and certainly riding a major wave of momentum, Vincenzo Montella’s side will be more than aware that they have been handed a golden chance here. Mustering 10 points from just their last four Group D appearances, Turkey will also be excited by their most recent showdown against Sunday’s guests. Putting in an action-packed performance away in Latvia back on June 16th as they claimed a 3-2 victory, the one-time Sevilla boss will be desperate for his high-flying squad to lay down a definitive marker in Adana.

Team News

Bagging that famous winner away at Croatia earlier in the week, Galatasaray’s Baris Yilmaz will once again spearhead Turkey’s charge on Sunday night. Already bagging a pair of Serie A strikes with Italian giants Inter Milan this season, Hakan Calhanoglu will earn an 81st international cap in Adana.

However, while new Real Madrid recruit Arda Guler might be inching towards a return from his latest injury setback, the 18-year-old starlet will play no part this weekend.

Latvia

As for the visitors, while Latvia might have endured another public qualifying nightmare this year, the Wolves will take some solace from a much-welcomed boost earlier in the week. Springing an upset on home soil as they eventually claimed a 2-0 victory against Armenia, that was the first set of Group D points that Dainis Kazakevics’ side have put on the board throughout 2023. However, losing each of their other seven appearances across all formats – a run that stems back over the past 11 months – Latvia will be more than aware that they face a monumental challenge on Sunday night. Still sat rock-bottom of the Group D standings, it is worth noting that Kazakevics’ men have failed to muster a single win from any of their last seven straight showdowns against Turkey. Showing a string of issues on foreign soil since opening 2023, Latvia are rightfully tipped as a landslide underdog in Adana.

Team News

Shown a pair of bookings in Thursday’s 2-0 victory against Armenia, 32-year-old defender Marcis Oss will be forced to serve a one-match suspension on Sunday night.

Bagging his first EURO 24 qualifying strike of the year in midweek and now finding the net in his last three appearances for club and country, Janis Ikaunieks will spearhead Latvia’s charge here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met for their reverse Group D showdown back on June 16th, Turkey picked up a 3-2 victory on foreign soil.
• Likewise, the Crescent Stars are unbeaten in each of their last seven meetings against Sunday’s guests.
• Including a 1-0 win against Croatia in midweek, Turkey have collected 10 points from their last four qualifying appearances.
• Despite landing a 1-0 win against Armenia earlier in the week, Latvia have lost each of their other seven appearances across all formats.
• Latvia have lost each of their previous four contests on foreign soil by an aggregate score of 11-3.

Conclusion

Putting in a famous performance in midweek as they secured a 1-0 victory away at Croatia, Turkey will be looking to punch their ticket to EURO 24 with another thumping display in Adana. Mustering 10 points from just their previous four Group D appearances, the Crescent Stars will certainly be smelling a golden chance when they return to home soil here. Unbeaten in each of their last seven straight showdowns against Sunday’s guests – a run that stems all the way back to November 2003 – a high-flying Turkey are rightfully tipped as a landslide contender this weekend. Two camps who find themselves firmly battling it out at opposite ends of the Group D table, it is hard to see anything other than a home victory at the Yeni Adana Stadyumu.

Verdict: Turkey half-time/full-time

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Dachbet