Soccer-Montella sticks with experience in Turkey World Cup squad

Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella has named his 26-man World Cup squad, selecting a mix of experienced players and young talent for the tournament.

Turkey manager Vincenzo ​Montella named his ‌World Cup ​squad on Tuesday, selecting the experienced Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler, Kerem ‌Akturkoglu and Baris Alper Yilmaz, to lead the side.

Sporting Braga midfielder Demir Ege Tiknaz was left out, with Montella ‌opting for Galatasaray’s Kaan Ayhan and Borussia Dortmund’s ‌Salih Ozcan. In attack, Danish league Player of the Season Aral Simsir was left out, but Irfan Can Kahveci was included.

Turkey are ⁠in ​World Cup Group ⁠D and will play Australia in their opening match before ⁠facing Paraguay and co-hosts the U.S. Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert ​Gunok (Fenerbahce), Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray)

Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), ⁠Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli Saudi), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Ozan Kabak (TSG ⁠1899 ​Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizespor), Zeki Celik (AS Roma) Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), ⁠Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund)

Strikers: Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Can ⁠Uzun (Eintracht ⁠Frankfurt), Deniz Gul (Porto), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray)