Soccer-Guler to lead Turkey on World Cup return against Australia


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - Australia v Turkey - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 13, 2026 Turkey's Arda Guler arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

VANCOUVER, ⁠June 13 (Reuters) - Arda Guler will take ⁠on the role of playmaker for ‌Turkey as they return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence when they face Australia ​in their opening Group D ⁠match at BC ⁠Place on Saturday.

• Arda Guler starts in ⁠the ‌number 10 role

• Merih Demiral will anchor the Turkish defence

• Baris ⁠Alper Yimaz will start on the ​left for ‌Turkey

• Australia coach Tony Popovic has ⁠chosen Patrick ​Beach to start in goal ahead of Mathew Ryan

• Australia forward Mohamed Toure has ⁠recovered from illness and will ​lead the line

• Toure will be joined up front by the speedyNestory Irankunda

Australia: Patrick ⁠Beach; Alessandro Circati, Jacob Italiano, Jordan Bos, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess; Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler; Mohamed Toure, Nestory ​Irankunda

Turkey: Ugurcan Cakir; Zeki ⁠Celik, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu; ​Orkun Kokcu, Hakan Calhanoglu, ‌Ismail Yusek; Kerim Akturkoglu, ​Adra Guler, Baris Alper Yimaz

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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