Belgium vs Turkey preview

June 1, 2011
By: Frank Beresford

With Germany very likely to finish top of the group, Belgium and Turkey will be fighting for the second place in the group, which makes this game extremely important for both sides.

Turkey won the first game between the two teams 3:2 even though Belgium were the better team on the day and the visitors will now be more than happy with one point from this game.

Belgium, on the other hand, have shown a lot of promise during the Euro 2012 qualifiers and they finally look ready for an assault on the place at the final tournament, so odds of 2.25 (5/4) offered by Bodog on home win do look tempting.

Coach Georges Leekens will have the courtesy of choosing from a fully fit squad, which should give his side an upper edge over Turkey, with the visitors missing quite a few first team regulars.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Mignolet – Ciman, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vertonghen – Witsel, Defour, Simons, Chadli – Dembele, Vossen.

Turkey managed to return to winning ways following back to back defeats to Germany and Azerbaijan, having beaten Austria at home, but they now face a tough task against in-form Belgium.

With coach Guus Hiddink looking to take over the reigns at Chelsea, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding the squad, creating a poor atmosphere before a very important game.

Numerous injuries to the playing squad are certainly not helping, so no wonder that everybody at the squad keep saying they would be delighted with one point from Belgium. Draw is quoted at 3.25 (9/4) with 888Sport.

Guus Hiddink will be without back-up keeper Onur Kivrak, Nuri Sahin, Tuncay Sanli, Mevlut Erdinc and Hamit Altintop, while Barcelona target Gokhan Gonul is a doubt.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Demirel – Gonul, Cetin, Kesimal, Balta – Arda Turan, Topal, Emre, Inan – Yilmaz, Ekici.

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