Kenan Yıldız
Ranking
Timeline
Grades
Key Grades
This season
Overall Grades by game
This season
Matches
News
Lively cameo off bench
Yildiz (calf) recorded six shots (zero on goal), two crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Australia.
Analysis: Yildiz checked in at halftime for Baris Yilmaz and instantly gave Turkiye's attack a spark, firing six shots (none on target) while finding pockets of space between Australia's lines with the kind of direct, aggressive play that had been missing in the first half. His introduction was widely viewed as the turning point that transformed Turkiye from predictable to dangerous going forward, though Patrick Beach and Australia's defense ultimately stood tall. Yildiz wrapped up the Juventus campaign with 11 goals and nine assists in 46 appearances, and coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to hand him a spot in the starting XI against Paraguay as Turkiye looks to get its World Cup qualifying push back on track.
Completes full training session
Yildiz (calf) recovered from injury and completed the full training session with the team, according to NTVSpor.
Analysis: Yildiz is the biggest question mark in Turkey's starting lineup ahead of their World Cup opener against Australia. The forward had been training separately for the past few days following a calf injury with Juventus and only rejoined the group in team training today. With the game just around the corner, coach Vincenzo Montella faces a difficult call on whether to throw him straight into the starting eleven or ease him in from the bench.
Explore more players
Marcus Thuram
Donyell Malen
Lautaro Martínez
Christian Pulisic
Select Player
Search and select a player to compare