World Cup Playoffs 2026: Turkey-Romania, likely lineups
The eyes of an entire nation are on Istanbul’s Tupras Stadium. Today, at 6 p.m., Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey faces Romania in the semifinal of the playoffs for access to the 2026 World Cup. A dry match that admits no mistakes. Whoever wins will fly to the final against the winner of Slovakia-Kosovo, whoever loses will have to say goodbye to the World Cup dream. Turkey comes to this fixture with the weight of history, the red-and-whites have been missing from the final stage of a World Cup since glorious 2002. Montella relies on the warmth of the Istanbul crowd and a group that mixes experience and talent. On the other side, Romania is experiencing an even longer fast, where their last participation was in 1998. Despite difficulties in results away from home in the last year, the Romanians remain a tough, compact opponent ready to exploit spaces to try to dream.
Montella’s team is banking everything on the talent of its best players. In goal Cakir, protected in the center by the experience of Demiral, while on the flanks the drive of Celik and Kadıoglu, may make the difference. The maneuvering of the game, passes from the feet of captain Hakan Calhanoglu, but the real strength are the trequartists behind the only thick point, there are the young stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yıldız.
Lucescu’s team is very compact. In goal is Radu protected in the center by the wall formed by Ghița. On the flanks the full-backs are Rațiu and Chipciu, they have to help in coverage to avoid the speed of the Turks. The midfield is run by Screciu and Dragomir who are tasked with serving the forwards. The number one danger is Parma’s Dennis Man, who will try to catch Turkey on the counterattack with his speed.
The likely lineups:
TURKEY (4-1-3-2):Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardacki, Kadiouglu; Calhanoglou; Kocku, Arda Guler, Aydin; Akturkoglou, Yildiz. All. Montella.
ROMANIA (4-3-3): Radu; Ratiu, Racovitan, Ghita, Chipciu; Hagi, Marin, Dragomir; Man, Biriligea, Mihaila. All. Lucescu.
