Turkey starts Euro qualifying campaign against Iceland

Turkish national men’s football team starts its 2016 European Championship qualification against Iceland tonight.

Fatih Terim’s boys will try to qualify through a tough group, but a changed format could be in Turkey’s favor.

The tournament will be played with 24 teams for the first time in France, and the top two teams in nine groups qualify directly for the Euro 2016. The highest-ranked third-place team will also win a berth and the other eight third-place sides will enter a playoff round.

After becoming a semifinalist in the Euro 2008, Turkey missed three consecutive international tournaments, including the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and the Euro 2012.

Apart from Iceland, Turkey will face the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Kazakhstan in the Group A.

Turkey should be encouraged with a 2-1 victory over Denmark in a friendly game last week.
The Netherlands topped the qualifying group, which also included Turkey, on the road to 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is again tipped to win the group.

The Dutchmen, coached by former Turkey boss Guus Hiddink, play against the Czech Republic.