Australia and Turkey kick off their World Cup campaigns at BC Place with nothing between them in the group. Both sides arrive after solid preparation, though the gaps in recent schedules leave some questions about sharpness on June 14.
Australia drew 1-1 with Switzerland in early June before losing 0-1 to Mexico. Earlier they beat Curaçao 5-1 and Cameroon 1-0. Turkey won their last four listed games, including 2-1 against Venezuela and 4-0 against North Macedonia. Those results show a side comfortable in attack and tight at the back.
The last meetings between these teams date back to 2004 friendlies where Turkey won 1-0 and 3-1. Nothing more recent exists in the records, so history offers little guidance for this Group D opener.
Turkey will be without Kenan Yıldız and Hakan Çalhanoğlu through injury. Arda Güler is reported on track to recover from a prior hamstring issue. Australia list no current absences. The Socceroos under Tony Popovic field a mix of experience and younger players, while Turkey rely on several emerging talents.
Nestory Irankunda and Jordan Bos stand out for Australia alongside Jackson Irvine and captain Mathew Ryan. For Turkey the focus falls on Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Ferdi Kadıoğlu. Both teams start with zero points and a full schedule ahead that also includes the USA and Paraguay.
Turkey qualified for their first World Cup since 2002 via playoffs. Australia reached the round of 16 in recent editions and will look to push further. The match itself carries no extra derby weight beyond the opening fixture tension.
Apuestas recomendadas
Turkey win @1.95 — four wins from their last four listed matches give them the stronger recent momentum against an Australia side with one loss in the same window.
Under 2.5 goals @1.85 — Turkey kept clean sheets in three of their four recent results while Australia scored once or less in two of their last three.
Arda Güler anytime goalscorer @3.40 — the midfielder is central to Turkey’s attack and listed as recovering well ahead of the opener.
Las cuotas bajan antes del partido — aprovecha el valor ahora.
