Turkey will be expecting a big boost from a supportive crowd in Baku, and they might just need it.
After a 3-0 loss to Italy without even a shot on target, Turkey will face a Wales team looking to build on its opening draw when the teams meet Wednesday at the European Championship.
Azerbaijan is an ally of Turkey and the two countries have close cultural ties, so a large delegation of traveling fans and local Turkey supporters are expected. A quiet, mostly empty venue for Wales’ 1-1 draw with Switzerland could now have an intimidating away-game atmosphere.
Wales is expecting it.
“I think hopefully we can feed off the negative energy of the Turkey fans as opposed to the positive one. We can try and have the game on our terms, which is always the objective,” said Wales midfielder Joe Morrell, who set up Kieffer Moore’s equalizer in the games against the Swiss.