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Kick-off: Thursday, 24 March @18:45 GMT
Venue: Antalya 100. Yil Stadyumu (Antalya)
Live Stream: fuboTV (US), bet365 (non-US)
Head to head record
Turkey vs Sweden 2-1 (2014 Friendly International)
Turkey vs Sweden 0-0 (2008 Friendly International)
Turkey vs Sweden 1-2 (2002 World Cup qualifiers)
Sweden vs Turkey 1-1 (2002 World Cup qualifiers)
Sweden vs Turkey 0-0 (Euro 2000)
Turkey vs Sweden prediction
Having played out a goalless draw with their bitter rivals Greece in November friendly, Turkey will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to twelve games when they take on Sweden in Thursday’s warm-up match in Antalya.
Turks tough to beat
Turkey failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, but thanks to brilliant performances in the Euro 2021 qualifiers, the team did well to secure their place at the showpiece tournament in France. The Turks are on an 11-game unbeaten run ahead of the visit of Sweden and they will be looking to return to winning ways on the international stage after playing out a goalless draw with Greece in their last friendly. Fatih Terim’s troops were impressive at the back in their Euro 2021 qualifying campaign and they will definitely rely on their rock-solid defence in Thursday’s clash against Sweden. Barcelona ace Arda Turan is undisputedly the team’s key player and the opposition defenders should have him at bay. The Crescent Stars suffered their last defeat on 12 November (Brazil), but they need to keep on making progress if they are to be at the top of their game when they kick off their Euro 2021 campaign.
Borussia Dortmund Nuri Sahin has been recalled to the squad, with fellow Bundesliga ace Hakan Calhanoglu being included as well. Burak Yilmaz and Serdar Aziz return to contention after missing the Greece game.
Is Ibra irreplaceable?
Sweden, on the other hand, failed to impress in the Euro 2021 qualifiers, but they eventually booked their place in the play-offs. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at the top of his game in the two-legged tie against Denmark and his goals helped Erik Hamren’s troops qualify for the European Championship finals. Sweden kicked off their preparations for the showpiece tournament in France with a shocking 1-1 draw with Estonia, but they proved their worth in a 3-0 win over Finland on 10 January. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rested in the game against the Finns and, as reports in Sweden suggest, Ibra has taken up Erik Hamren’s offer to skip Thursday’s friendly against Turkey. In his absence in-form attacker John Guidetti is likely to lead the attack for the visitors against the Crescent Stars.
Rasmus Elm has been overlooked, with the likes of Ola Toivonen and Jonas Olsson missing out as well. Benfica defender Victor Nilsson Lindelof has earned his first call-up, but Mikael Antonsson has been omitted. Goalkeeper Per Johannes Hopf is yet another uncapped player in Sweden squad. Aforementioned attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be rested against Turkey.
Quick Facts
- Turkey are eyeing their fourth consecutive clean sheet at home
- Turks are on an 11-game unbeaten run
- Fatih Terim’s troops recorded a 2-1 win over Sweden in their last meeting in Turkey
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who misses the Turkey game, scored 11 goals on the road to France
- Sweden failed to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four matches
Turkey vs Sweden betting tip
Turkey impressed in the Euro 2021 qualifiers and given that Sweden ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic is going to miss Thursday’s friendly, I believe that there is a big value in betting on the Crescent Stars. Fatih Terim has a number of top-class players to choose from and they are likely to beat the Swedes in Antalya.
Tip: Turkey to win
Odds: 1.90 (9/10) @Betfair
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