The National Team Leave Gürsel Aksel Without a Point for the First Time

Turkey's national football team hosted Belgium in İzmir in their fifth match of UEFA Nations League Group 1. Turkey went ahead through a superb free kick from Arda Güler, but they could not stop the goals from De Bruyne and De Katelaere and lost the match 2-1.

Sergen Yalçın, who was appointed head coach after Montella's departure from the national team, suffered a defeat in his first match in charge. The team took an active approach from the start and went ahead, but they conceded two goals within four minutes and could not hold their lead.

Turkey had won both of their previous matches at Gürsel Aksel Stadium. They beat Lithuania 2-0 in 2022 and Iceland 3-1 in 2024. The team lost points at the stadium for the first time since it opened in 2020.

Ozan Kabak is suspended after receiving a yellow card against Belgium. The 26-year-old defender will miss the away match against France on Sunday, 15 November, leaving his team without him.