Turkish national football team stands 94% chance to qualify for Euro 2024 ‘s last 16

The Turkish national football team is on the brink of advancing to the knockout stage of Euro 2024, with a 94% chance of reaching the last 16.

This optimistic outlook follows the completion of Group A and B matches, which significantly impacted Türkiye’s prospects.

In Group A, Germany and Switzerland secured their spots in the last 16, leaving Hungary in third place. In Group B, Spain continued its dominance by defeating Albania 1-0, thanks to Ferran Torres’s goal.

Meanwhile, a dramatic late equalizer from Italy’s Mattia Zaccagni in the 98th minute resulted in a 1-1 draw with Croatia. This outcome eliminated Croatia, who finished with only one point.

These results have boosted Türkiye’s chances of advancing. After a 3-0 loss to Portugal, Türkiye’s chances had dropped to 83%, but they have now risen to 94%. If Denmark defeats Serbia and England beats Slovenia tonight, Türkiye will secure a place in the last 16 with no need for a result against the Czech Republic.

Favorable results in other groups further support Türkiye’s potential advancement. Croatia’s elimination means Türkiye is ahead of them in the ranking of the best third-placed teams. This provides a safety net, as Türkiye could still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams even with a loss against the Czech Republic.

Mehmet Buyukeksi, president of the Turkish Football Federation, expressed confidence in the national team’s prospects while speaking to Anadolu. He pointed to the young and talented squad, comparing it to the team that Türkiye and Italy will co-host for the 2032 European Championship.

“We have laid the foundations for the team that will become champions in 2032. We trust in both the present and future of our national team,” Buyukeksi stated.

Buyukeksi emphasized the team’s unity and readiness. “Our first goal was to advance from the group, and it is within our reach. We expect tremendous support from our fans in Hamburg, just as we had in Dortmund,” he added. He assured that the technical team and players are working in great harmony.

Looking ahead, if Türkiye draws or wins against the Czech Republic, they will finish second in their group and face the winner of Group D, which includes strong teams like the Netherlands, France, and Austria.

A loss to the Czech Republic would put Türkiye’s fate in the hands of other group results. They would need to rely on favorable outcomes in other matches to secure a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.

The chances of advancing also hinge on the outcomes in Groups C and D. In Group C, England, Denmark, and Slovenia are still battling for the top spot.

In Group D, Türkiye needs Austria to lose heavily to the Netherlands and for France to draw or win against Poland to improve their chances of being among the best third-placed teams.