Lilian Thuram: Turkey Has No Limits to Its Success in the World Cup

Lilian Thuram said the Turkish National Team could go very far in the 2026 World Cup. Thuram emphasized Turkey's young and talented players and noted that the third-place finish in 2002 gave the team confidence.

Scraper SystemJune 10, 2026, 05:43 PM

Lilian Thuram: Turkey Has No Limits to Its Success in the World Cup

Lilian Thuram assessed the Turkish National Football Team's chances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, painting a picture of great hope for Turkey. The former French star noted that the national team has standout young players and that with the right team structure, they could go very far.

Thuram said he knows Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who plays for Inter, and considers him one of the best midfielders in the world. He also praised Arda Güler from Real Madrid and Kenan Yıldız, who has been prominent at Juventus.

Describing Kenan Yıldız as a very talented and young player, Thuram said players like him can pose problems for any defender. He emphasized that there are truly very good young players in the national team and expressed hope that Turkey will advance very far.

The experienced figure also reminded that it is always difficult to predict how far Turkey can go in the World Cup. Nevertheless, he said a good team can progress far in major tournaments, and Turkey has achieved this in the past.

Thuram noted that the third-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup could provide significant confidence to the national team. He said this success created a belief among players that they could go even further.

Regarding the French National Team, Thuram said the generation emerging in recent years is very talented. He emphasized that coaches in France have done a good job developing new generations but added that having very good players alone does not guarantee winning the World Cup.

Lilian Thuram: Turkey Has No Limits to Its Success in the World Cup