Arda Guler headlines Turkiye squad for Nations League fixtures

Turkiye manager Vincenzo Montella has selected Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler and Al-Ahli Saudi defender Merih Demiral in his squad for the European Nations League fixtures against France, Italy and Belgium.

The squad includes several familiar names from Europe’s leading clubs, with Guler among the attacking options and Demiral included in defence.

Turkiye squad

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Celta Vigo), Muhammed Sengezer (Istanbul Basaksehir), Okan Kocuk (Samsunspor), Ugurcan Cakır (Galatasaray).

Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakcı (Galatasaray), Adil Demirbag (Konyaspor), Emirhan Topcu (Besiktas), Eren Elmalı (Galatasaray), Ferdi Kadıoglu (Brighton), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli Saudi), Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Trabzonspor), Zeki Celik (Juventus).

Midfielders: Bartug Elmaz (Fenerbahce), Demir Ege Tıknaz (Sporting Braga), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Melih Kabasakal (Trabzonspor), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Salih Ozcan (Besiktas).

Forwards: Aral Simsir (Trabzonspor), Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Barıs Alper Yılmaz (Galatasaray), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gul (Galatasaray), Ilhan Faki (Besiktas), Irfan Can Kahveci (Fenerbahce), Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Oguz Aydın (Fenerbahce), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray).

Turkiye will begin its campaign against France on Friday, 25 September. The match will also mark Zinedine Zidane’s first game as manager of France.

The squad announcement comes after Turkiye were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in the group stage.

They finished bottom of Group D with three points. The group also contained the United States, Australia and Paraguay.