Born in 2005, Arda Güler, Can Uzun and Kenan Yildiz lead Türkiye’s golden generation | OneFootball

Arda Güler, Can Uzun and Kenan Yildiz, all born in 2005, have become the faces of Türkiye’s new era, their journey beginning together with the under-17s.

According to L'Équipe, former goalkeeper Rüstü Recber has warned against comparing this side with the 2002 team that finished third, stressing the current group’s youthfulness. Uzun and Yildiz were born in Regensburg and raised abroad, while Güler was born in Ankara before moving to Real Madrid after reaching adulthood.

The trio made their Türkiye U17 debuts on the same day, three September 2021 in Baku, a 4-1 win in Azerbaijan. They shared nine caps there under Soykan Basar, who pushed for early promotion. Senior bows followed, Güler in November 2022, Yildiz in October 2023, Uzun in March 2024.

All featured in the Champions League last season and posted their best returns. Uzun, contracted to Eintracht Frankfurt until 2029, could leave this summer and still produced 10 goals and five assists in 28 matches despite a two-month hamstring lay-off. Yildiz, used on the left or as a second striker, extended at Juventus to 2030 and is not for sale, finishing with 11 goals and nine assists in 47.

A right thigh injury curtailed Güler’s season, though he became Real Madrid’s chief creator, logging 50 appearances with 40 starts, six goals and 14 assists.

After a 0-2 opening defeat by Australia, Güler started, Yildiz came on for the second half and Uzun stayed on the bench. Türkiye’s Italian head coach Vincenzo Montella could revisit those choices for Paraguay on Saturday, kick-off at five am.

Source: L'Équipe