Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
Two months ago, in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, Turkey were just a step away from advancing to the next stage. Their upcoming opponents, Wales, failed to reach the final stage of the tournament—there are fewer top players in the Welsh squad who can make a difference.
Wales
Following an average performance in the European Championship qualifiers, Wales faced Finland (4:1) and Poland (0:1 after penalties) in the playoffs. At home against Poland, they generated 0.85 xG over 120 minutes but couldn't get past Wojciech Szczęsny. The coaching staff is increasingly reluctant to rely on veterans like Aaron Ramsey, and the attacking duo of Kieffer Moore and Brennan Johnson is lacking—the team needs more quality.
Turkey
In Euro 2024, Turkey essentially only faltered against Portugal (0:3), but scored eight goals over six games in the tournament. Notably, in their match against Austria (2:1), which they played without key players Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Samet Akaydin due to suspension, the team still managed to generate 0.87 xG and scored twice from free kicks and corners. The versatility of Turkey's attack can disrupt opponents' plans.
Wales - Turkey Prediction
In the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Wales and Turkey were in the same group—Turkey took four points from their head-to-head encounters (2:0 and 1:1). The Turkish side is favourites once again, as their leading players have the individual skill to make a decisive impact.
