Turkey's Arda Guler: A Rising Star Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
Turkey's Coach Praises Arda Guler Before World Cup Clash
Vancouver [Canada], June 11: As Turkey prepares for their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Australia, head coach Vincenzo Montella has expressed high praise for his standout player, Arda Guler, highlighting his remarkable skills and tactical awareness.
Montella remarked, as reported by a news outlet, “He possesses talent, intuition, and an excellent understanding of the game; he knows when to slow the pace and when to push forward, and he has a knack for scoring. Despite his youthful appearance, he is quite astute.”
Guler is expected to lead a motivated Turkey squad, making their World Cup finals return after more than two decades, as they face a spirited Australian team in their Group D match at BC Place in Vancouver this Saturday.
While Turkey has shown strong performances in recent European Championships, they have not participated in a World Cup since their semi-final run in 2002. The 21-year-old Guler, born long after that historic campaign, now embodies the attacking hopes of his football-enthusiastic nation.
Montella further commended Guler for his ability to perform under pressure, stating, “He has talent, competes at a high level, and manages significant pressure effectively.”
Despite Guler's capability to shoulder the responsibility, there are lingering concerns regarding his fitness due to a hamstring injury sustained towards the end of the club season with Real Madrid, which sidelined him for the final matches of the season.
His recent performances against North Macedonia and Venezuela have alleviated some worries, but Guler faces a tough challenge against an Australian side that reached the last 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were eliminated by the eventual champions, Argentina.
Turkey's Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026:
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce A.S.), Ugurcan Çakir (Galatasaray A.S.)
Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray A.S.), Çağlar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce A.S.), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray A.S.), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce A.S.), Ozan Kabak (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Çaykur Rizespor A.S.), Zeki Çelik (AS Roma)
Midfielders: Hakan Çalhanoglu (Internazionale), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce A.S.), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray A.S.), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas A.S.), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund)
Forwards: Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray A.S.), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gul (FC Porto), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa A.S.), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce A.S.), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce A.S.), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray A.S.).