Turkey coach Sergen Yalcin names 26-man Nations League squad without Akturkoglu and Bayindir

Turkiye coach Sergen Yalcin announced a 26-man candidate squad for the UEFA Nations League matches against Belgium and France. The list was revealed during a live broadcast at the Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities in Riva. Yalcin said four goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards were selected.

Kerem Akturkoglu of Fenerbahçe and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir were not included in the squad. No official reason was given by Yalcin or the Turkish Football Federation for Akturkoglu's omission. Erzurum Pusula Gazetesi said Kenan Yildiz and Muhammed Sengoz were left out because of injuries.

“Whoever deserves it and whoever will contribute will be here.”

Yalcin stated that players who deserve and contribute will be included. He said the technical staff used artificial intelligence-supported data analysis and watched 43 matches live. He also mentioned a four-year process ahead for the national team.

Turkiye will host Belgium in Izmir on November 12 and play France in Bordeaux on November 15. The team lost its first four group matches and aims for a new start under Yalcin.

Taşköprü Postası reported that Altay Bayindir was also omitted alongside Akturkoglu. It listed Uğurcan Çakır, Berke Özer, Deniz Ertaş, Serhat Öztaşdelen and İrfan Can Eğribayat as the goalkeepers called up. Erzurum Pusula Gazetesi named Berke Özer, Ersin Destanoğlu, Serhat Öztaşdelen and Uğurcan Çakır as the four goalkeepers.

The full squad includes defenders such as Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Ozan Kabak and Zeki Çelik, midfielders including Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and forwards such as Enes Ünal and Yunus Akgün.