At the end of a very exciting group stage, most of the matchups evolved into a playoff for a ticket to the top 16, as if it were an early final. This is a tough matchup for both Czech and Turkish soccer, but I firmly believe that Turkey's path to the top is much smoother.
Although Turkey suffered a tough loss against Portugal, I think they have the most crucial players in their team, such as Cahanugu, Barys Yemas and Aydar Guna, who are the three key players in the midfield. In other words, they have more offense and tactics at their disposal, which will be enough to crack the Czech defense and make it to the top 16.
Against Portugal, Turkey exposed weaknesses on the defensive end, such as misplaced passes and offside kicks that led to key goals conceded. However, given that the Czech Republic is not very good on offense, they are expected to have the upper hand in this match. The holes in the defense could be magnified in the knockout rounds, and Turkey will only feel real pressure against a stronger opponent.
As for the Czech Republic, they are desperate for the return of their star striker Berdrešuk at a crucial time. They need more than just a win, but a run of goals, which has been their shortcoming in this tournament.
The Czech Republic's efforts for the victory ended up with only one result. I think Turkey will find the key to victory in defensive counterattacks, as we witnessed in the Georgia v Turkey match. Therefore, they will be the winners of this matchup.
