Soccer-Turkey bring in Yildiz for Paraguay match


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Turkey Training - San Jose Park, San Jose, California, U.S. - June 18, 2026 Turkey's Kenan Yildiz during training REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

SANTA CLARA, California, ⁠June 19 (Reuters) - Turkey brought in Juventus forward Kenan ⁠Yildiz to their starting lineup on Friday ‌for their World Cup Group D match against Paraguay, who introduced Isidro Pitta into their attack.

• Real Madrid's Arda Guler and ​Fenerbahce's Kerem Akturkoglu retain their ⁠places in the Turkey ⁠team.

• Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella gives Yildiz a start ⁠for ‌the first time at this World Cup after he came on as a substitute ⁠during the 2-0 defeat by Australia.

• Paraguay ​make two ‌changes to the team that lost 4-1 to ⁠the United ​States, with Pitta leading the attack alongside Julio Enciso and Matias Galarza brought into the midfield.

• Paraguay's English ⁠Premier League pairing Diego Gomezand Omar ​Alderete keep their places in the team.

• Co-hosts the United States beat Australia 2-0 in their earlier Group ⁠D match in Seattle on Friday to book their spot in the next round.

Lineups:

Turkey: Ugurcan Cakir, Merih Demiral, Kerem Akturkoglu, Arda Guler, Hakan Calhanoglu, Kenan ​Yildiz, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Yuksek, Mert ⁠Muldur, Yunus Akgun, Ferdi Kadioglu

Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Omar Alderete, ​Juan Jose Caceres, Junior Alonso, ‌Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Andres ​Cubas, Gustavo Gomez, Julio Enciso, Matias Galarza, Isidro Pitta

(Reporting by Martin PettyEditing by Toby Davis)

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