Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu says his team will dominate Australia

Calhanoglu, a 32-year-old midfielder who recently won a Serie A championship with Inter Milan, commented on Friday that his team's superior qualities would lead to a dominant performance against Australia at BC Place. He added, "So we will see (Saturday) what happens."

Australia, participating in its sixth consecutive World Cup and having reached the knockout stage in 2022, responded to Calhanoglu's remarks. Midfielder Aiden O'Neill stated, "He’s allowed to have his own opinion. We’ve got quality players on our team, too, so we’re ready."

Turkish manager Vincenzo Montella also acknowledged Australia's strengths, noting, "I would like to use some of their techniques because I think they are interesting techniques."