Turkey upset world champion France with a 2-0 home win
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 France's Ferland Mendy in action with Turkey's Zeki Celik REUTERS/Gokhan Kilincer
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - World champion France was given a cold shower on Saturday in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Turkey, which kept up pressure throughout the game for a 2-0 home win and placed itself in the lead in Group H.
Turkey started the game strong, scoring their first goal in the 30th minute with a header from Kaan Ayhan following Cengiz Under's free kick into the penalty area.
Under then raised the difference in the 40th minute, slipping the ball past Hugo Lloris after a sprint down the right wing to the French goal.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 France's Paul Pogba in action REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Les Bleus upped the pressure in the second half of the game, but missed several chances to score due to strong defence from their opponents and a solid performance from goalkeeper Mert Gunok.
Burak Yilmaz missed the chance to put Turkey further ahead at the 85th minute, sending the ball narrowly past the right post after a one-on-one with Lloris.
In other games in the group on Saturday, Iceland earned a 1-0 home win against Albania, while Moldova beat Andorra 1-0 at home.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Kaan Ayhan scores their first goal REUTERS/Gokhan Kilincer
Turkey now lead Group H with nine points having won all three games so far. They are followed by France then Iceland, both at six points.
(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Dorukhan Tokoz in action with France's Antoine Griezmann REUTERS/Umit BektasSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Kenan Karaman in action with France's Moussa Sissoko REUTERS/Umit BektasSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Kenan Karaman in action with France's Hugo Lloris REUTERS/Gokhan Kilincer Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Kenan Karaman in action with France's Paul Pogba REUTERS/Umit BektasSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Burak Yilmaz shoots at goal REUTERS/Gokhan Kilincer Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Cengiz Under scores their second goal REUTERS/Gokhan Kilincer Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group H - Turkey v France - Torku Arena, Konya, Turkey - June 8, 2019 Turkey's Mahmut Tekdemir in action with France's Kylian Mbappe REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
