Turkey: Cakir, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Meras, Yokuslu, Karaman, Tufan, Yazici, Calhanoglu, Burak Yilmaz.
Subs: Gunok, Under, Tokoz, Bayindir, Antalyali, Kabak, Unal, Kokcu, Kahveci, Ayhan, Muldur, Dervisoglu.

Italy: Donnarumma, Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli, Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.
Subs: Raspadori, Bastoni, Sirigu, Meret, Di Lorenzo, Belotti, Pessina, Emerson Palmieri, Chiesa, Acerbi, Cristante, Bernardeschi.

Turkey have played in Rome before … but not against Italy. They faced Spain in a two-match qualifier for the 1954 World Cup. They lost the away leg 4-1, but won 1-0 at home, and the away goals rule wasn’t in effect. A play-off was necessary, and it was held on neutral ground at the Olimpico. Ten minutes before kick-off, a Fifa delegate stormed into the Spanish changing room and insisted that star man Laszlo Kubala was ineligible, on account of having previously played for Hungary and Czechoslovakia. After a trenchant debate, Kubala agreed to keep his civvies on … but Spain could only draw 2-2, then lost a subsequent drawing of lots. Turkey went to the World Cup, while Kubala suggested Fifa hadn’t wanted to risk his facing old pals and media darlings Hungary at a tournament the Golden Team were expected to win. Fifa responded by flatly denying they’d sent a man to the changing room at all, because they simply didn’t care either way. All a bit odd, but it means historically minded Turks may look upon this as a lucky venue.

Continue reading…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Ambulance review – Michael Bay hijack thriller

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal are the duo who take over…

Trump’s historic criminal trial enters second day as jury selection continues

Trump charged with 34 felony counts over alleged payments to adult film…

British soldier ‘heard horrible voices’ after Afghanistan, inquest hears

L/Cpl Ryan Mackenzie who killed himself at North Yorkshire army base was…