After World Cup defeat to Australia, Sancak highlights Onuachu qualities Turkey are missing

Turkey's disappointing start to the World Cup has reignited debate over the team's long-standing search for a reliable centre forward, with Trabzonspor’s Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu being highlighted as the type of player the national side lacked in their opening match.

Turkey suffered a 2-0 defeat to Australia in their first game of the tournament, with their attacking approach heavily focused on crosses from the flanks.

However, the strategy failed to produce the desired outcome against Australia's physically imposing defensive line.

The absence of a natural target man became a major talking point as Turkey struggled to make their aerial deliveries count.

Many pundits questioned why the team continued to send crosses into the box without a dominant striker capable of challenging Australia's tall defenders.

Trabzonspor reporter Birol Sancak, writing in his column for Taka Gazete, pointed out that Turkey's approach exposed their need for a traditional number nine.

"It was even more striking that these crosses were made to Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who was fighting hard at the forefront and proving ineffective," Sancak wrote.

"The national team, which has been feeling the lack of a clear number 9 for years, desperately needed a striker in the style of Trabzonspor's Nigerian star Paul Onuachu against Australia."

Onuachu has built a reputation as a powerful penalty-box striker, capable of holding up play, winning aerial battles and converting crosses into goals.

Those qualities, according to Sancak, would have provided Turkey with a different attacking option against Australia’s compact defence.