TipResumen

INTRODUCTION

Russia who reached the quarterfinals in the recent World Cup will travel to face Turkey in the League of Nations. Turkey failed to qualify for the last World Cup.



TURKEY

Turkey are coming into this match without defeat after their last four friendly matches have seen them made wins over Ireland and Iran. They have made draws against Montenegro and Tunisia while their last defeat was against Romania and Albania at the end of last year. It can be said that in that period coach Lucescu were experimenting with the side as he took over the side only at the end of the qualifiers, when it was already clear that they would not make the cut for the World Cup finals. Thus it was not surprising that after a home victory over Croatia and a guest draw with Finland, they have won only four points in the last four rounds, while they were beaten by Ukraine and at home by Iceland. But now coach Lucescu will have greater desire to enter the League of Nations and then in the European Championship qualifiers, so we can expect an attacking lineup in this match against the Russians. Their only absentee for this match will be centre-back Toprak.



RUSSIA

Russia surrpised everyone as being the host they were never expected to go far but in the end they managed to reached the quarter finals. They made it to the last 16 of the last World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and were not too bothered by the defeat to Uruguay in their third match. They went out guns blazing against Spain in the knockout round and they managed to beat them after penalties. However, in the next round they lost to Croatia in the same manner - through penalties. Still they went further then much had anticipated so they were nto too sad about their exit. Naturally they decided to keep coach Cherchesov in the team after the World Cup. They do have a lot of absentees as the likes of goalkeeper Akinfeev, centre-back Granat, midfielders Dzagoev and Golovin and striker Kokorin are out of this match due to injuries.



PAST MEETINGS

Interestingly the last match Turkey played was before the start of the World Cup against Russia and it ended as a 1-1 draw.