Published 12:24 IST, October 14th 2019
Euro 2020 Qualifiers: France vs Turkey team news and preview
France host Turkey at the Stade de France in a top of the table clash in Group H. Both teams are on 18 points. A win for either team will secure Euro 2020 spot.
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France and Turkey face off against each other in a mouth-watering top of the table clash in the Euro 2020 Group H Qualifier. France and Turkey have scored a combined 35 goals in their qualifying fixtures, so we can expect some goals in this game. Didier Deschamps' men have conceded just four goals in their seven Euro 2020 qualifiers. Turkey, however, have done them one better, having conceded just two goals so far, thanks to a watertight defence. Both teams are on a good run of form in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, with Turkey having secured three consecutive victories so far.
Şenol Güneş' men faced a minor blip in form during their 2-1 loss against Iceland in June. Since then, Turkey have gone on to score six goals in wins over Andorra, Moldova and Albania. Didier Deschamps' men, meanwhile are riding the crest of a wave. After an abysmal defeat against Turkey in June, Les Bleus have gone on to hit top form, scoring 12 and conceding just one goal since the loss. Deschamps, however, will have to do without first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in goal. The Tottenham captain suffered a horror injury in the Premier League, dislocating his elbow in Tottenham's dismal 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion. Lloris is expected to be out till December. Paul Pogba and Aymeric Laporte also miss out due to injuries.
🔴 RESULTS! 🔴
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@UEFAEURO) October 13, 2019
💫 Player of the day = 🤔#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/QapjyPodI7
That does not mean that Didier Deschamps is short on options between the sticks. The World Cup-winning coach will have the option of fielding either Marseille custodian Steve Mandanda in goal, or on-loan Real Madrid 'keeper, Alphonse Areola. Didier Deschamps opted to start Mandanda in goal during France's 1-0 win over Iceland in their previous Qualifier. Les Bleus were made to sweat by Iceland, with the game eventually being decided by an Olivier Giroud penalty in the 66th minute. France have won four of their previous five meetings against Turkey, with their only defeat against the Turks coming in their last meeting in June. France failed to register a single shot on target in the game, with goals from Kaan Ayhan and Cengiz Ãœnder condemning Deschamp's men to defeat.
Euro 2020 qualifiers: Predicted line-up
France - Mandanda; Pavard, Lenglet, Varane, Digne; Matuidi, Sissoko, Tolisso, Griezmann, Giroud, Coman
Turkey - Günok; Meras, Demiral, Ayhan, Celik; Belözoglu, Tekdemir, Tufan; Tosun, Yilmaz, Çalhanoğlu
11:09 IST, October 14th 2019