This week sees the start of another UEFA Nations League campaign and Saturday evening features this upcoming clash in League C Group 1 between Turkey and Faroe Islands at Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu with the hosts seeking a return to winning ways.
Turkey have suffered recent back to back defeats to Portugal and Italy, the former being a World Cup qualifier semi-final play-off and the latter an international friendly.
Training in Turkey. 🇫🇴 pic.twitter.com/x5ncNRgHeV— Færøsk fodbold (@FaeroskFodbold) May 31, 2022
Training in Turkey. 🇫🇴 pic.twitter.com/x5ncNRgHeV
But the hosts had previously racked up three wins on the trot with victories gained over Latvia, Gibraltar and Montenegro.
Turkey therefore missed out on qualification for Qatar 2022 and somehow they’ve managed to plumb almost the depths of the international stage as they find themselves in League C.
But in a Group 1, they are alongside nations such as Saturday’s opponents, Faroe Islands, along with Lithuania and Luxembourg.
Saturday’s hosts therefore stand a great chance of promotion up to League B and having lost just three of their last nine games.
Turkey look set to produce a positive start in this campaign but goals could be thin on the ground in what is expected to be a tight encounter against their visitors.
Faroe Islands finished in 5th place in their World Cup qualifying group and at least pipped bottom nation, Moldova, in terms of avoiding the wooden spoon, but the Islanders are making slow but steady progress albeit against the other minnows of the international stage.
Victories over Liechtenstein (home and away) and Moldova in recent times has lifted them above the familiar basement dwellers but having managed to capture just three wins out of their last 17 matches in all competitions, Faroe Islands look to have their work cut out on Saturday in Istanbul.
Results and form away from home continue to be a concern though for Faroe Islands who have managed to muster just the one victory in their last 11 outings on the road, which also consists of six defeats and four draws.
Indeed, a draw seems the best that the Faroe Islands can hope for against Turkey as the visitors look to keep things tight at the back with perhaps the goal markets representing the best value.
Five of Faroe Islands’ last nine away games have resulted in under 2.5 goals and another tight fixture could unfold here.