Nations League Turkey: Güler scores, but Belgium turns the game

In the Nations League Turkey, Arda Güler faced a free kick in the 20th minute, but Turkey lost 1-2 to Belgium, heightening the danger of relegation from League A. The match was played in Izmir and marked the debut of the new Turkish national team coach Sergen Yalcin.

Kevin De Bruyne equalised for Belgium in the 27th minute, before Charles De Ketelaere three minutes later put them ahead to 2-1.

Arda Güler opened the game with a dream goal, striking the ball from about 25 metres straight into the top left corner, leaving keeper Senne Lemmens no chance.

Jeremy Doku played the ball into the centre, where De Bruyne waited unmarked and scored the equaliser.

Relegation pressure and quarter-finals

Turkey therefore remains without points after the fifth match of Group 1 in the Nations League, while Belgium, thanks to the three points, still hopes to qualify for the quarter-finals.

After a disappointing World Cup, four defeats in the Nations League and the dismissal of coach Vincenzo Montella, Sergen Yalcin was expected to revive the Turkish national side with his debut.

Match info: All actions were documented in the ticker, but the coaching debut and the debut showed no turning point.

In the closing stages, keeper Lemmens saved Gül's finish in the 83rd minute and Hakan Calhanoglu's shot in stoppage time, securing the 2-1 result.

Turkey's relegation from League A of the Nations League is not yet sealed, but with zero points from five games it becomes increasingly likely, as the two lowest‑placed fourth‑placed teams are directly facing relegation.

Belgium will face Italy in the final group match, with the group winner and runner‑up advancing to the round of the best eight.