Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup: Australia vs Turkey
Kickoff Time: 2026-6-14 12:00 (HKT)
Australia have qualified for the FIFA World Cup seven times in their history, and their trip to the United States, Canada and Mexico marks the Socceroos’ sixth consecutive appearance at the finals. Tony Popovic’s World Cup squad fully reflects his tactical philosophy. Only five players are from the domestic league, while 14 plying their trade in Europe guarantee the team’s competitiveness. The side is built around an experienced core consisting of Mathew Ryan, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie. Meanwhile, 17 first-time World Cup participants represent the future of Australian football. Popovic experimented with various formations during the World Cup qualifiers, before settling on the 5-4-1 and 3-4-2-1 as the team’s primary tactical setups. Against stronger opponents, Australia pack players deep in their own half. When pushing for goals, the wing-backs surge forward to ignite attacks. Their three-centre-back and double defensive midfielder system is solid, and the selection of wide midfielders serves as a key tactical indicator. Having abandoned an ineffective possession-based style, Australia have reverted to their traditional physical approach with long balls and crosses, alongside notable improvements in formation adaptability and defensive resilience.
Turkey are blessed with a golden generation led by rising talents such as Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, and the nation returns to the World Cup finals after a 24-year absence. The team primarily lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Güler operates as the right attacking midfielder, while Yıldız cuts inside from the left flank. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu orchestrates play in midfield. This possession-oriented system is Turkey’s go-to game plan for securing victories. When facing top rivals, Turkey switch to a three-man defence. With flexible adjustments across the back three and double pivot, Güler and Yıldız are deployed as twin attacking midfielders, maximising their forward drive on the counter-attack to break down opposing defences. For all their attacking flair, defensive inconsistency remains Turkey’s biggest flaw. Defenders Merih Demiral and Çağlar Söyüncü boast vast experience but lack pace and agility. The backline will be severely tested when confronted with swift counter-attacks.
Turkey’s overall squad market value is far higher than other teams in the group, and they hold a clear edge over Australia in terms of overall strength. Their major advantage lies in the attacking and midfield units, who boast superior technical ability and work rate, offsetting their shortcomings in physical duels. All things considered, Turkey stand a strong chance of beating Australia and claiming a winning start to their campaign.
Australia ‘s Last 5 Games: DLWWL
26-06-07 Australia 1-1 Switzerland
26-05-31 Mexico 1-0 Australia
26-03-31 Australia 5-1 Curaçao
26-03-27 Australia 1-0 Cameroon
25-11-19 Colombia 3-0 Australia
Turkey ‘s Last 5 Games: WWWWD
26-06-07 Venezuela 1-2 Turkey
26-06-02 Turkey 4-0 North Macedonia
26-04-01 Kosovo 0-1 Turkey
26-03-27 Turkey 1-0 Romania
25-11-19 Spain 2-2 Turkey
Prediction: Turkey win away