Türkiye Look to Salvage Some Pride Against France in the Nations League

Türkiye will visit France in Bordeaux on Sunday. The national team has failed to pick up a point in five Nations League matches. Türkiye have scored three goals and conceded 13, giving them a goal difference of minus 10, and they sit at the bottom of the group. They no longer have any chance of advancing, so their aim is to take at least one point.

France lost 3-1 to Italy in Milan. France need at least one draw to advance to the quarter-finals. Italy and France are level on 10 points, while Belgium are just behind them on 9 points.

In Türkiye, Sergen Yalçın was appointed by the Turkish Football Federation on October 20 on a four-year contract. He took over as head coach after Vincenzo Montella's departure and the team's elimination in the group stage of the World Cup. The team lost 1-0 at home to France on September 25, with Mbappe scoring in the 54th minute. They then lost 4-1 to Italy in Kocaeli and 3-1 to Italy again. They lost 3-0 away to Belgium. Most recently, they lost 2-1 to Belgium in İzmir, their fifth consecutive defeat.

In Yalçın's first match in charge, Arda Güler gave Türkiye the lead with a free kick in the 20th minute. However, Kevin De Bruyne equalized seven minutes later. Charles De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the 30th minute. The team's defensive gaps and inconsistency stood out again in this match.