Newsletters
France beat Türkiye 2-1 in a UEFA Nations League match at Stade Atlantique on Sunday, going ahead through an own goal early in the second half and extending the lead through substitute Junior Kroupi before Türkiye pulled one back with a header in the 90th minute.
Abdülkerim Bardakci’s goal, set up by an Arda Guler cross from a corner, left Türkiye chasing an equalizer during five minutes of stoppage time, but France held on.
France controlled much of the opening period and tested goalkeeper Berke Ozer repeatedly. He saved efforts from Adrien Rabiot in the sixth minute, Kylian Mbappé in the 14th, Bradley Barcola in the 21st and Mbappé again in the 34th. Michael Olise also forced a save from the Türkiye keeper in the 38th minute.
Türkiye created chances of its own, if less often. Baris Alper Yilmaz fired wide from long range in the third minute, and Bardakci headed off target from a corner in the 17th. Deniz Gul also headed wide from a corner in the 32nd minute. In the 35th, Ismail Yuksek forced a save from Mike Maignan after a through ball from Can Uzun. The teams went into the break at 0-0.
France replaced Maignan with Guillaume Restes in goal at halftime, and the hosts broke through four minutes after the restart. Emirhan Topcu put the ball into his own net in the 49th minute to make it 1-0.
Türkiye thought it had equalized in the 53rd minute when Guler scored, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review and the score stayed 1-0. Guler tested Restes with a left-footed effort from outside the box in the 67th minute, and the goalkeeper saved it.
France made several changes in the second half. Rabiot and Barcola made way for Eduardo Camavinga and Kroupi in the 63rd minute. Warren Zaïre-Emery replaced Rayan Cherki in the 82nd, and Pablo Pagis took over from Olise in the 85th.
Kroupi, on the pitch for 17 minutes, doubled France’s advantage in the 80th minute. He struck a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the center of the goal after a pass from Cherki, making it 2-0.
Türkiye’s coach responded with a triple substitution in the 81st minute. Ferdi Kadioglu replaced Yilmaz, Oguz Aydin came on for Eren Elmali and Orkun Kokcu replaced Hakan Calhanoglu. Yunus Akgun and Salih Ozcan had already entered the match earlier in the half, for Uzun and Yuksek.
Türkiye won a corner in the 90th minute after the ball ran off Ibrahima Konate. Guler’s cross found Bardakci, who headed in from very close range to make it 2-1. Officials had announced three minutes of added time, but play went on for five.
France conceded a corner in the closing moments, and a late foul by Gul on Konate ended Türkiye’s last spell of pressure. The final whistle followed. Three players were cautioned in the match: Konate for France in the 55th minute, and Yilmaz in the 56th and Ozcan in the 73rd for Türkiye.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
