Turkey - Group D
Faced with a qualifying group containing Holland and the Czech Republic and having won none of their opening three matches things looked bleak for Fatih Terim's men. However the Turks finished ahead of the Dutch and qualified as the highest ranked third-placed team.
Get to know: Turkey
No wins from three in their opening games and the Turks looked dead and buried, but with the Dutch losing half of their qualifying matches, the door was open for Turkey to sneak third spot. Finishing as the highest ranked third-placed team, Fatih Terim’s men didn’t even need a play-off to secure a place in Euro 2016, although they know they’ll need to improve quickly if they’re to make a mark in the tournament proper.
In the group stages, they won 5 games, drew 3 and lost 2, scoring 14 goals, conceding 9 and ending up with a +5 goal difference.
In the draw for the main event, Turkey were placed in Group D, alongside the Czech Republic, Spain and Croatia.
Fixtures:
June 12 vs. Croatia 1pm – Parc des Princes, Paris
June 17 vs. Spain 7pm – Allianz Riviera, Nice
June 21 vs. Czech Republic 7pm – Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
Goal scorers:
During qualification, Turkey scored 14 goals
Their goal scorers were:
- Burak Yılmaz (4)
- Selçuk İnan (3)
- Arda Turan (2)
- Serdar Aziz (1)
- Umut Bulut (1)
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (1)
- Bilal Kısa (1)
- Oğuzhan Özyakup (1)
Qualification Stat Truths:
- Second most wasteful finishers of any qualifier: 9.1 shots taken per goal scored.
- One of only two qualifiers to lose a qualifying match by three or more goals.
- Scored first in 9/10 of their qualifying matches.
All data based on Turkey’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign. Courtesy of the Press Association.