DBasia.news – In the Group H qualifying match that took place at the Stade de France, Turkey managed to fail France, to advance to the 2020 European Cup final with a 1-1 draw.
Les Bleus took the lead through substitute, Olivier Giroud’s, goal in the 76th minute, but Turkey were able to equalize through the completion of another substitute, Kaan Ayhan, in the 82nd minute, according to the official UEFA website.
Thanks to this result the two teams together topped the group standings with a collection of 19 points, and France had to wait until November to lock in the final round ticket.
France, who appeared dominant from the start, had a number of opportunities. But the slick appearance of Turkish goalkeeper, Fehmi Mert Gunok, which he showed by thwarting the chances of Anthony Griezmann and Moussa Sissoko, has made the visitors’ goal not concede.
Sissoko had another chance in the 24th minute, but his strike failed to trouble Gunok.
France kept pressing back got a chance through Griezmann, who fired a curling shot from the edge of the penalty box, but his shot was widen.
Didier Deschamps’s men were hoping for a penalty when Griezmann was played by Merih Demiral, however, the referee signaled the game would continue. Turkey had a chance through a counterattack, but Burak Yilmaz’s shot was still rising above the crossbar.
Deschamps played Giroud in the 72nd minute to replace Wissam Ben Yedder. The change soon paid off, four minutes later Giroud headed in Griezmann’s corner kick to break into Turkey’s goal.
Unfortunately France failed to maintain the slim advantage. Hakan Calhanoglu’s free kick was successfully headed by Ayhan to equalize to 1-1 which lasted until the game was over.
Line-up:
France (4-2-3-1): Steve Mandanda, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Clement Lenglet, Lucas Hernandez, Moussa Sissoko, Corentin Tolisso, Kingsley Coman (Jonathan Ikone 87 ‘), Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi (Thomas Lemar 77 ‘), Wissam Ben Yedder (Olivier Giroud 72’)
Turkey (4-3-3): Mert Gunok, Mehmet Zeki Celik (Kaan Ayhan 53 ‘), Caglar Soyuncu, Merih Demiral, Um Meras, Ozan Tufan (Cenk Tosun 81’), Mahmut Tekdemir, Okay Yokuslu (Hakan Calhanoglu 46 ‘ ), Irfan Kahveci, Burak Yilmaz, Kenan Karaman