For a U.S. audience, Arda Güler is probably the first Turkish name to circle in this group. He is only 21, plays for Real Madrid, and is one of the most exciting young players in the entire tournament. His decisive passing, set-piece delivery, and long-range shooting have vaulted him to a key contributor for the Spanish giants. That matters because the U.S. will not just be dealing with a tidy possession player. They will be dealing with one of the two Turkish midfielders most capable of turning a half-chance into the pass or shot that changes the match.
He is also arriving in real form, not just on reputation. In recent months he has assisted in Türkiye’s playoff semifinal, scored a goal from his own half for Madrid, and a brace in Munich. It was Güler’s moment of brilliance that set up the winner in Türkiye’s 1-0 playoff victory over Romania. So when the U.S. sees Türkiye on the schedule, this is the player most likely to punish a loose midfield rotation or a defender stepping out a second too late.
That is what makes him so interesting in this group. The U.S. will probably feel good about its athleticism and tempo against Türkiye, but Güler is exactly the kind of player who can slow the game down and make the Americans defend with patience instead of energy. If the U.S. let him receive too comfortably between the lines or give him cheap fouls around the box, he has the ability to make them pay.