The key facts

  • Turkey lost 1:2 to Belgium in Sergen Yalçın's debut match as head coach
  • Arda Güler opened the scoring with a free kick in the 20th minute, but Belgium equalised with two goals in three minutes
  • Turkey remained without points after five matches, while Belgium moved up to second place with nine points

Defeat in Yalçın's debut

The Turkey national team lost 1:2 to Belgium in a UEFA Nations League match (Group A1) played at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium in İzmir. For Sergen Yalçın it was his debut match as head coach of the national team, and it ended with Turkey's fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament.

Course of the match

Turkey started the match actively and opened the scoring in the 20th minute: Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler sent the ball into the top left corner with an impressive long-range free kick, leaving goalkeeper Senne Lamens with no chance. Belgium equalised seven minutes later — Jérémy Doku got past Oğuz Aydın on the left flank and crossed for Kevin De Bruyne, whose first-time strike made it a goal. In the 30th minute, Charles De Ketelaere tapped the ball into the near corner after Diego Moreira's shot was parried by Uğurcan Çakır. By half-time the visitors led 2:1.

Second half and missed chances

Yalçın made his first substitutions in the 58th minute, bringing on Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Deniz Gül for Orkun Kökçü and Enes Ünal. A minute later, Çakır saved the team after De Ketelaere went one-on-one. In the closing stages Turkey searched for an equaliser, but Lamens denied Deniz Gül's shot in the 82nd minute after a move involving Güler and Zeki Çelik, and in stoppage time he kept out Çalhanoğlu's powerful strike from inside the box with his legs.

Standings

After this defeat, Turkey remained without points after five matches of the group stage, while Belgium, with nine points, moved up to second place in the group — ahead of the match between Italy and France, which took place the same day.