Turkey to play critical match against Netherlands
Turkey National Football Team set to play away to European heavyweights Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday
ANKARA
Turkey's National Football Team will be hosted by European football giants Netherlands in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying group match at Amsterdam Arena on Saturday.
Both Turkey and Netherlands need to win the game if they want to maintain their challenge on the road to France.
Having collected four points so far in Group A, Turkey is in a critical situation in the group, which is led by the Czech Republic with 12 points.
The Netherlands have six points and are in third place.
The Group A match at Amsterdam Arena will kick off at 20:45 CET (1945 GMT).
"Oranje" (The Orange) may lack their two regulars, Bayern Munich's explosive winger Arjen Robben and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, who were omitted from the squad due to injuries.
In the meantime Turkey's ace in the midfield, Arda Turan, will be missing the critical game in Amsterdam as he is suspended.
It is expected that Galatasaray's Dutch attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder will be the captain of Netherlands for the match.
Turkey and Netherlands met twice in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying round and Oranje won both games 2-0.
- The standings in the group are:
Group A
| Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| Iceland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Turkey | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| Latvia | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 2 |
| Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 1 |
- Matchday 5 fixtures:
March 27
Group C
Macedonia vs Belarus
Slovakia vs Luxembourg
Spain vs Ukraine
Group E
England vs Lithuania
Slovenia vs San Marino
Switzerland vs Estonia
Group G
Liechtenstein vs Austria
Moldova vs Sweden
Montenegro vs Russia
March 28
Group A
Kazakhstan vs Iceland
Czech Republic vs Latvia
Netherlands vs Turkey
Group B
Israel vs Wales
Andorra vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belgium vs Greek Cypriot Adm.
Group H
Azerbaijan vs Malta
Croatia vs Norway
Bulgaria vs Italy
March 29
Group D
Georgia vs Germany
Scotland vs Gibraltar
Republic of Ireland vs Poland
Group F
Northern Ireland vs Finland
Romania vs Faroe Islands
Hungary vs Greece
Group I
Albania vs Armenia
Portugal vs Serbia
March 31
Group B
Israel vs Belgium
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