It's a tough time for the Turkish national team at present. Fatih Terim's side were stunned 3-0 away at minnows Iceland in their first Euro 2016 qualifying match, and they're in the midst of an injury crisis ahead of their crucial upcoming games against the Czech Republic and Latvia. Six players who were in Terim's initial squad have been sent home injured, including stars like Volkan Demirel, Ömer Toprak, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Burak Yılmaz.
Turkey vs. Czech Republic live stream: How to watch Euro 2016 qualifying online
Turkey will have to overcome an injury crisis if they’re to pick up the first win of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in this slate of matches.
Elsa
Czech Republic will be looking to use that as extra motivation heading into this match, though their excellent start to their qualification campaign should ensure they don't need too much of an added incentive to perform. Pavel Vrba's side downed the Netherlands 2-1 in their opening qualifier, meaning they sit joint-top of the group with Iceland heading into this international break.
Key player - Arda Turan (Turkey)
Much like his domestic team Atlético Madrid, Arda Turan seems to have emerged out of nowhere over the last few years. The attacker has been a crucial part of the recent success of Diego Simeone’s La Liga champions, with his industry and versatility helping him to become one of the club’s key squad players. In the summer, he was even linked with a move to Manchester United. In the absence of some of his top international teammates, he’s going to have to step up and deliver in the upcoming couple of games.
Key question - Will Turkey's injuries get the better of them?
On paper, Turkey look like a stronger team than the Czech Republic. Though it looks catastrophic, the 3-0 scoreline of Turkey’s defeat to Iceland doesn’t tell the whole story -- the hosts netted twice late on after Ömer Toprak was sent off just past the hour mark. It’s obvious that Turkey are a much better team than that result suggests. However, it remains to be seen whether they’re good enough to defeat a stubborn Czech side, even with several vital players missing. This game will be a big test of Fatih Terim’s squad depth.
Match Date/Time: Friday, 9:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu, Istanbul, Turkey
TV: Sportsnet One (Canada), Sky Sports Red Button (U.K.), Show TV (Turkey), ČT Sport (Czech Republic)
Online: Watch ESPN (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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