We started the World Cup with a defeat: Australia 2-0 Turkey

The starting 11 for the National Football Team, which will face Australia in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been announced.

Competing in football's biggest tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, the Crescent-Stars will take the field against Australia in their first match of the group stage. The match, which millions of football fans will follow with excitement, will be officiated by Jesus Valenzuela from the Venezuelan Football Federation.

Valenzuela will be assisted by Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno.

The starting 11 that Head Coach Vincenzo Montella will field against Australia consists of the following players:

Turkey: Uğurcan Çakır, Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Kerem Aktürkoğlu.

Australia: Beach, Circati, Italiano, Bos, Souttar, Burgess, Metcalfe, O'Neill, Okon-Engstler, Toure, Irankunda.

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AUSTRALIA-TURKEY LIVE COVERAGE

86' Yunus Akgün became the player to receive a yellow card for our national team.

80' Zeki Çelik and İsmail Yüksek were substituted out for our team. Salih Özcan and Mert Müldür came on in their place.

77' Our national team attacked effectively with great passes. Kerem shot the ball laid off by Merih inside the penalty area, but the goalkeeper did not allow a goal.

75' GOAL | Metcalfe struck hard from outside the penalty area for Australia, and the ball went into our net.

72' Zeki Çelik found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper following a brilliant through ball from Hakan Çalhanoğlu, but he could not beat Patrick Beach. The ball went out for a corner.

62' Substitution for our national team: Orkun Kökçü left the game, and Yunus Akgün entered in his place.

60' Substitution for Australia: Irankunda left the game, and Velupillay entered in his place.

57' İsmail Yüksek shot the ball laid off by Arda Güler from a corner kick taken by Kenan Yıldız, but the shot went wide.

56' Goalkeeper Patrick Beach did not allow a goal from the free kick taken by Arda Güler.

55' Orkun Kökçü created a significant opportunity by winning the ball. Fouled by Souttar, Orkun won a free kick for our national team from a central position facing the goal.

52' Uğurcan did not allow a goal from Souttar's header for Australia.

50' The National Team attacked effectively. In an attack that started with Kenan Yıldız's dribbling on the left wing, Hakan Çalhanoğlu's shot was first blocked by the defense. Then, İsmail Yüksek's shot deflected off an opponent and went out for a corner.

47' Australia attacked dangerously. Merih intervened in Bos's shot, and the ball went out for a corner.

46' The second half has begun. Barış Alper Yılmaz left his place to Kenan Yıldız in our National Team.

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45' Australia 1-0 Turkey, first half result

44' Australia attacked effectively from the left wing. Uğurcan did not allow a goal from Irankunda's shot.

41' We continue to test the goal. Arda Güler's shot went wide.

35' Orkun shot the ball laid off by Kerem from Barış Alper's cross, but the shot went wide.

29' POST | A long-range shot from Abdülkerim hit the post.

27' GOAL | Irankunda slipped behind our defense and sent the ball into our net, putting Australia 1-0 ahead.

18' Our national team prepared the position with great passes outside the penalty area. Ferdi Kadıoğlu's shot went wide by a narrow margin.

6' Arda Güler's shot went wide.

3' Hakan Çalhanoğlu's shot for the National Team deflected off the opposing defense and went out for a corner kick.

1' The first whistle has blown in the match. Come on, Our Boys.