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Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella has been building one of the nation’s strongest teams in living memory. A youth-driven squad with two genuine stars – Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz – several players were not even born when the Crescent Stars last qualified for a World Cup and finished third in 2002.

In past tournaments, Turkey were often labelled as “dark horses” – which turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. This time, Montella has constructed a squad that sits among those on the rung below heavyweights Spain, France and Argentina.

Turkey enter Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States fancying their chances of progressing. This is a young team but there is plenty of top level experience, and while Guler and Yildiz are both 21 they play with a maturity beyond their years. Hakan Calhanoglu is the elder statesmen and will be pulling strings in midfield.

Guler gave Turkey a major injury scare a few weeks ago but he has made a full recovery and will be fit for their opening game against Australia. The Real Madrid midfielder has the weight of the nation on his young shoulders but is relishing the challenge. “If there is pressure, I am here for it,” Guler said.

Turkey’s main strength is in midfield and attack. Expect this side to try to dominate their Group D opposition with possession of the ball and to dictate the tempo of play.

No team has ever won the World Cup with a foreign manager but Montella, born near Naples in Italy, has completely immersed himself in the socio-cultural fabric of Turkish football. “The culture that raised me and the culture I encountered in Turkey are incredibly similar,” he said. “I can think like a Turk. I eat like a Turk. I act like a Turk. That’s why I feel like a Turk.”

Turkish football has a reputation for being melodramatic. So it has been a pleasant surprise that the team camp has been uncharacteristically tranquil. No drama, major fights, or feuding factions that have marred the national team in the past. The media has been surprisingly supportive as have the fans. It’s a far cry from the intense – at times toxic – pressure and scrutiny the manager and team usually receive ahead of a major tournament.

Montella has engineered a tactically fluid, high-intensity 4-2-3-1 system which he often tweaks to try to get the best out of his key players – especially for Guler. But Turkey is not built around Guler, with Yildiz a star in his own right, while the influence of Calhanoglu, Orkun Kokcu and the full-backs give Montella flexibility and ensure the coach is not overly reliant on the Real Madrid midfielder.

Calhanoglu is the conductor of this Turkish side. The Inter Milan midfielder has evolved into a deep-lying regista of the highest order. And the in-form Kokcu is adept at keeping the ball and doing defensive work as well as contributing to attacking moves.

The main area of concern for Turkey is in defence. It is where the team is most unpredictable and at times lacking discipline and organisation. That is precisely the reason Australia could pose a problem. Abdulkerim Bardakci and Merih Demiral are the likely centre-back pairing. Both are physical, commanding defenders who are strong in the air and tough in the tackle. They do sometimes lack synergy, have never played together at club level and have slipped up on occasion.

The Socceroos’ threat on counterattacks and from set pieces is a genuine concern. Turkey have struggled against well-drilled, defensive sides who bring an aerial threat. And while Turkey will probably dominate possession, Montella has yet to find his leading man up front and is still experimenting with his striker selection. This has made it tricky to unlock stubborn defences.

Australia’s traditional defensive setup relies on keeping a compact shape, but against Turkey they will be put to the test and could struggle to deal with Yildiz operating as a mobile false nine and on the wing. Yildiz is often joined by Ferdi Kadioglu – who is coming off the back of a terrific season at Brighton, where he likes to push forward – and the pair pose a real threat down the right. Montella could also turn to the explosive Baris Alper Yilmaz against Australia, as a tireless presser who will relentlessly run the channels.

The USA play a more aesthetically pleasing style of football and will have the advantage of playing on home soil. But their style is one Turkey should be more comfortable in dealing with. The US’s strength could be their undoing as Turkey have more quality and options in a battle for possession.

There are frailties that both Australia and the USA will look to exploit. Turkey’s commitment to attacking fluidity leaves them structurally vulnerable when the press is broken. If Ismail Yuksek is left isolated in the defensive midfield pivot, clever transitional players can run directly at a Turkish central defence that has historically been prone to positional lapses.

Montella has a safe pair of hands in goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir who is coming off the back of a league title winning season with Galatasaray. He is in form and has already made several vital saves in the qualifiers.

Turkey have struggled with defensive organisation, especially dealing with set pieces and counterattacks. On their day the defence is reliable. But there have been simple mistakes and they are unpredictable. It could end up being the achilles heel of a side that is filled with much promise.