Fatih Terim, the current manager of the Turkish national football team took the surprise decision to drop several established players out of the Turkey squad for next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Arda Turan and Burak Yilmaz are among the star names that have been dropped from the Turkey squad for games against Russia and Croatia. Turan has been in good form with Barcelona and was ready to gain his 100th cap at international level but was rejected by the national team coach, Terim.
There was also no room for Burak Yilmaz, Caner Erkin, and Selcuk Inan.
Turan was whistled at Euro 2016 by Turkey fans who felt the Barcelona winger’s performance were below par. For Beijing’s striker Yilmaz, it could be the end of his international career at the age of 31.
Though Yilmaz’s rejection is justifiable, Turan’s isn’t; the Barcelona midfielder has already scored two goals in six appearances for the La Liga giants. Both the stars are in the latter parts of the career which may have been the reason for the Turkish coach excluding them
Terim felt the time was right to introduce new younger players with more stamina and energy in the wake of Turkey’s disaster in the Euro 2016.
Turan made over 90 appearances for the Turkish football club at the senior level and scored 17 goals.
New, young faces in the team
Among the fresh faces in a squad that does not include anybody above the age of 30 are promising Borussia Dortmund winger Emre Mor, FC Twente striker Enes Unal, both just 19 years of age. 20-year-old SC Freiburg defender Çalar Söyüncü has also been included in the squad.
The Turkish manager will also be looking for a contribution from Bayern Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Canhanoglu. Terim is determined to move forward with a fresh start and a younger Turkish side.
Turkey kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Croatia.
They next face Ukraine at home and Iceland away in the next two World Cup qualifiers to be played this month.
