Team Turkey takes on the Russian national team in their second international friendly in the past year on Saturday, September 22 at Ataturk Olympic Stadium (Olympic Prep Center Athletic Field) outside Istanbul in theYasin Görkem Yazıcı Foundation Cup.
Both teams have been active in recent years.
Turkey lost a close game to Serbia a year ago while Team Russia took on the Spanish national team a month ago, losing 27-0 in Madrid.
This is the first time these two teams have played each and it will be only the second game for Turkey since playing Romania six years ago.
Turkey’s 60 man roster includes 16 members of the Turkish championship team, the Koc Rams. One of the keys to the Turkish offense is Rams running backTaha Çokadar. Another player to keep an eye out for is wide receiver Yasin Can Parlak from the Turkish runner ups, the Bogazici Sultans.
Prior to the game against Spain, Team Russia had last taken the field in 2017 when they defeated the Belgian Barbarians, the Belgian national team, 7-2 in Brussels. Before that, in 2016 the Russian squad had lost in the IFAF Europe qualifying tournament to both Great Britain (30-13) and Holland (17-6). Russia had previously defeated Norway 20-0 to advance to the qualifying tournament.
The Russians have traveled to Istanbul with a 44 man squad which does not include long-time national team quarterback Igor Chernolutsky who has been the key to their offense.
