Deniz Gul Strengthens World Cup Case as Turkey Crushes North Macedonia 4-0 in Istanbul
Forward Deniz Gül took a huge step toward securing a place in Turkey’s final 2026 World Cup squad, delivering a composed finish in a dominant 4-0 win over North Macedonia in Istanbul. In a vibrant, sold‑out stadium and an atmosphere more reminiscent of a tournament knockout match than a friendly, Vincenzo Montella’s team used this fixture as a full‑intensity rehearsal before flying to North America.
The result was not just a comfortable victory; it was a statement of intent. Turkey combined high pressing, fluid positional play, and relentless vertical attacks to dismantle a North Macedonian side that never truly adjusted to the tempo. For several fringe players, especially Gul, this was a final audition under real pressure-and many rose to the occasion.
Lightning Start: Early Goals Set the Tone
Turkey exploded out of the blocks. Barely two minutes had passed when Orkun Kökçü broke the deadlock. After a clever move down the right, Oğuz Aydın slid a perfectly weighted pass into the box. Kökçü, timing his run to perfection, opened his body and sent a precise left‑footed shot low into the corner. The early breakthrough instantly tilted the game in Turkey’s favor and forced North Macedonia on the back foot.
Rather than easing off after the opener, Turkey pressed even harder. Their forwards hunted in packs, winning the ball high up the pitch and forcing rushed clearances. The visitors struggled to string passes together, and the match quickly turned into attack-versus-defense. By the 16th minute, the pressure told again.
Can Uzun, one of the most exciting names in Turkey’s new generation, doubled the lead. Left‑back Eren Elmalı surged forward on the overlap and whipped in a teasing ball from the flank. Uzun, drifting between the center-backs, met the cross first time and guided it into the net. At 2-0 with barely a quarter of an hour gone, the outcome already felt inevitable.
Tactical Battle: Turkey Exploit the Flanks
North Macedonia lined up in a 3‑4‑1‑2 system, aiming to clog the central areas and limit Turkey’s combination play between the lines. On paper, it promised stability; in practice, it left them vulnerable in wide zones. Turkey’s rapid switches of play constantly pulled the away side’s back three out of shape.
Each time North Macedonia tried to compact the middle, Turkey simply shifted the ball quickly to the wings, forcing their opponents to scramble across. The young Turkish attackers, led by Uzun, Aydın, and Gül, repeatedly made sharp diagonal runs behind the wing‑backs, dragging defenders out of position and opening pockets of space for midfield runners like Kökçü to exploit.
The visitors rarely managed to push up as a unit. Isolated forwards were starved of service, and their attempts to play out from the back were suffocated by Turkey’s coordinated press. When North Macedonia did cross the halfway line, they were quickly dispossessed or forced into hopeful long balls that Turkey’s center-backs dealt with comfortably.
Gul’s Big Moment: A Goal That Could Change His Summer
The second half brought changes, but not a drop in intensity. Montella introduced fresh legs while keeping the structure intact, clearly determined to simulate the demands of tournament football. In the 53rd minute, Deniz Gül had the moment he had been waiting for.
Collecting the ball near the edge of the area after a quick combination move, Gül showed excellent composure. Instead of rushing his shot, he took a steadying touch to open up the angle and then drilled a measured finish beyond the goalkeeper. The stadium erupted-not only for the goal itself, but for what it symbolized.
Gül had featured in previous qualifying matches without finding the net, leading to questions about his efficiency at international level. This strike, in a performance where he also contributed intelligent movement and pressing, felt like a direct answer to those doubts. In the context of Montella’s final 26‑man selection, this goal may carry disproportionate weight.
Yılmaz Adds the Finishing Touch
At 3-0, Turkey could have easily coasted to the final whistle, but the desire to keep pushing was evident. The front line continued to press, and the midfield maintained its intensity, defensively and offensively. The fourth and final goal arrived in the 70th minute through Barış Alper Yılmaz.
After another wave of pressure, Yılmaz found space just inside the box. Receiving the ball in stride, he struck a clean, confident finish to seal a comprehensive 4-0 scoreline. The goal underscored the depth Montella has at his disposal in the attacking department; even with rotations, the level of threat remained high.
Yılmaz’s contribution extended beyond the goal. His off‑ball runs repeatedly stretched the North Macedonian defense, opening lanes for teammates and ensuring the opposition never had a moment of respite. Performances like this strengthen his own claim for a prominent role in the World Cup campaign.
Defensive Solidity and Game Management
While the headlines will naturally focus on the four goals and the fluid attacking play, the clean sheet was equally important. Turkey’s back line, shielded effectively by the midfield, rarely allowed North Macedonia clear sights of goal. Compact defensive spacing and well‑timed challenges ensured that goalkeeper involvement was limited mostly to routine catches and simple distributions.
Crucially, Turkey managed the game with maturity once the scoreline became comfortable. Rather than turning the match into a chaotic end‑to‑end contest, they controlled possession, picked moments to accelerate, and slowed play when necessary. This ability to shift tempo is often what separates group-stage survivors from early exits in major tournaments.
For Montella, seeing his team maintain concentration at 3-0 and 4-0 will be reassuring. Lapses in focus can be costly at World Cup level; Istanbul showed that this group is learning to stay locked in from first whistle to last.
What This Means for Montella’s World Cup Squad
This match functioned as more than just a friendly; it was essentially a live selection trial. A number of players are competing for a limited number of seats on the plane, and performances in high‑pressure environments carry significant weight. Deniz Gül, in particular, may have transformed his status from “question mark” to “probable inclusion.”
His goal, combined with his work rate and tactical discipline, gives Montella a compelling case to consider. Gül offers versatility-capable of operating centrally or drifting wide-and his understanding with other forwards appears to be growing. For a coach preparing for a long, demanding tournament, such adaptable options are invaluable.
Beyond Gul, the match reaffirmed the importance of Orkun Kökçü as a creative and scoring force from midfield, showcased Can Uzun’s maturity despite his age, and highlighted Barış Alper Yılmaz’s effectiveness as both a starter and impact substitute. The depth in attack, long considered an area of concern for Turkey in past cycles, now looks like a genuine strength.
Momentum and Confidence Ahead of Group D
Turkey wraps up its June domestic camp with morale sky‑high and defensive confidence bolstered by a shutout performance. Attention now turns fully to the World Cup in North America, where Turkey has been drawn into Group D alongside the United States, Australia, and Paraguay.
Each of these opponents poses a different type of challenge. The United States is known for athleticism and high‑energy pressing, Australia brings physicality and aerial duels, while Paraguay typically offers tight, gritty defending and quick counters. The ability Turkey showed against North Macedonia-switching play rapidly, attacking wide spaces, and pressing as a unit-will be especially relevant against such varied styles.
The national side begins its World Cup journey on June 14 against Australia in Vancouver. That opening fixture will be crucial in setting the tone for the group campaign. A commanding victory at home over North Macedonia provides exactly the kind of psychological boost and tactical rehearsal required before stepping onto the global stage.
Gul’s Role in a Crowded Attack
A key question now is how Deniz Gül fits into the bigger tactical picture. With several forwards and wide players in form, competition is intense. Gül’s main advantages are his intelligent movement, his willingness to press aggressively from the front, and his ability to step into different attacking roles without disrupting the team’s balance.
In systems where Montella opts for a high front three, Gül can operate as a channel runner, dragging defenders wide and creating central space for midfield arrivals. In more conservative shapes, he can play closer to goal, occupying center‑backs and looking to finish moves, much like he did for his strike in Istanbul.
If he can replicate his club‑level sharpness in training sessions and maintain the confidence gained from this performance, Gül has a realistic chance not just to make the squad, but to play meaningful minutes in the group stage.
Balancing Youth and Experience
One striking feature of this Turkish side is the blend of emerging talent and seasoned internationals. The North Macedonia match again underlined how the younger core-players like Uzun and Gül-can inject dynamism and unpredictability, while more experienced figures provide structure and composure.
Montella’s challenge is to balance this mix. Overreliance on youth can lead to inconsistency, but leaning too heavily on veterans risks sacrificing energy and pressing intensity. The 4-0 win suggested that Turkey is edging closer to an optimal blend, with youngsters given the freedom to express themselves within a clearly defined tactical framework.
This balance could be decisive in the group stage, where quick turnarounds between matches demand both fresh legs and experienced decision‑making.
Final Takeaways: A Dress Rehearsal That Delivered Answers
As the final whistle sounded in Istanbul, Turkey had more than just a scoreline to celebrate. The team confirmed tactical ideas, built attacking chemistry, and solidified defensive confidence. Most importantly for individual players on the bubble, it provided clarity.
Deniz Gül emerges as one of the biggest winners of the night. His goal, performance, and visible self‑belief give Montella a compelling argument to carve out a role for him in the final squad. In a match framed as a dress rehearsal, Gül delivered a show‑stealing scene.
With the World Cup in North America fast approaching, Turkey can travel with belief that its preparations are moving in the right direction. If the intensity, fluidity, and ruthlessness on display against North Macedonia can be reproduced on the world stage, the “Crescent‑Stars” will not just be participants in Group D-they will be serious contenders to progress.