Turkey failed to capitalize on its first chance for promotion to League A of the Nations League on Saturday evening. The Turks had to beat Wales at home, but the match in Kayseri ended as it started.
Turkey took office at full war strength. Orkun Kökcü started in the starting line-up, together with strongmen such as Internazionale star Hakan Calhanoglu and Arda Güler, Real Madrid’s top talent. In that composition, the Turks had the upper hand for almost ninety minutes, supported by a seething stadium full of frenzied fans. The opportunities were just not taken.
The match seemed to end 0-0, until referee Juan Martínez Munuera seemed to give the home country a helping hand. Three minutes before the end, the Spaniard put the ball at eleven meters. Kerem Akturkoglu took a position behind the ball but the Benfica winger failed miserably and hit the post.
And so Turkey missed the first match point in group four of the Nations League B. A new opportunity will follow on Tuesday for the team of national coach Vincenzo Montella. Then Turkey visits Montenegro, which itself lost 0-2 to Iceland on Saturday and is still winless.
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