Turkey U21s to Host Czech Republic in Play-off First Leg

Turkey's Under-21 national team will host the Czech Republic in Rize tomorrow in the first leg of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027 qualifying play-offs. The match at Çaykur Didi Stadium will kick off at 19:00.

The match will be refereed by Jakob Sundberg from the Danish Football Association. Jesper Dahl and Jakob Mastrup will serve as assistant referees.

The team finished Group H, which also included Croatia, Ukraine, Hungary and Lithuania, with 13 points from 3 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat. They finished second in the group behind Croatia, earning a place in the play-offs. The Czech Republic finished second in Group B, which included Portugal, Scotland, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Gibraltar, with 18 points from 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats, behind Portugal.

The second leg will be played in the Czech Republic on November 17. The team that progresses will earn the right to compete in the European Championship, co-hosted by Albania and Serbia, which will take place between June 16 and July 3.

Head coach Egemen Korkmaz has named the following squad for the Czech Republic match. Goalkeepers: Deniz Ertaş, Kerem Matışlı and Mehmet Erdoğan. Defenders: Ayberk Karapo, Yusuf Akçiçek, Mertcan Ayhan, Hamza Güreler, Yiğit Efe Demir, Emir Ortakaya, Yasin Özcan and Deniz Emre Ofli. Midfielders: Barış Kalaycı, Yunus Emre Konak, Baran Ali Gezek, Emirhan Boz, Emirhan İlkhan, İsak Vural and İzzet Çelik. Forwards: Emirhan Acar, Mevlüt Şimşek, Ali Habeşoğlu, Arda Usluoğlu and Arda Çolak.