DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starts up front for Georgia in their Euro 2024 opener against Turkey on Tuesday, in his country’s first appearance at a major international soccer tournament.
Midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili will replace injured Otar Kiteishvili, while Giorgi Tsitaishvili will start in place of winger Levan Shegelia, who is on the bench for coach Willy Sagnol’s side.
For Turkey, defender Merih Demiral and midfielder Salih Ozcan, who plays for local side Borussia Dortmund, are on the bench as manager Vincenzo Montella opts to start Samet Akaydin in defence and Orkun Kokcu as an attacking midfielder.
Montella is fielding a blend of youth and more experienced players against Georgia highlighted by Inter Milan maestro Hakan Calhanoglu, who is making his third appearance at the Euros – and his first with the captain’s armband, and Real Madrid’s 19-year-old forward Arda Guler is up front.
Turkey: Mert Gunok; Ferdi Kadioglu, Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Mert Muldur; Hakan Calhanoglu (c), Kaan Ayhan; Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, Orkun Kokcu; Baris Alper Yilmaz
Georgia: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Guram Kashia (c), Lasha Dvali, Solomon Kvirkvelia; Otar Kakabadze, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Anzor Mekvabishvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Giorgi Tsitaishvili; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georges Mikautadze
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas and Sam Tobin, editing by Ed Osmond and Hugh Lawson)
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