pushed by its public, Turkey overcomes Georgia with sumptuous goals

Already better than in 2021. Pitifully eliminated during the previous edition, with three defeats in the group stage, Turkey started Euro 2024 with a great success against Georgia (3-1), which is playing its first competition major international, Tuesday June 18. With the fervent support of a large part of the public at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund (Germany), Vincenzo Montella’s men delivered a successful performance against the valiant but dominated Georgians, who gave in to magnificent strikes from Mert Müldür (26th) and Arda Güler (65th), before Kerem Aktürkoglu sealed the outcome of the match by scoring in the empty goal (90th + 8).

Despite a clear domination (60% possession) and far from being unproductive (11 shots) in the first period, the Turks long lacked edge in the zone of truth, like the post found by Kaan Ayhan from the starts (10th). They finally found the fault with a superb volley into the top corner from Mert Müldür, then with a curling shot into the other corner from the Real Madrid prodigy, Arda Güler (19), shortly after the hour mark. future teammate of Kylian Mbappé offered Turkey a victory far from certain after the equalizer of Georges Mikautadze (32nd). At the end of stoppage time, Kerem Aktürkoglu increased the score.

The first half hour of the match announced a one-sided match: Mert Müldür (26th) confirmed the Turkish domination, and the score would have been heavier if Kaan Ayhan had not hit the post (10th) and if Kenan Yildiz had not He wasn’t out of the game for a breath (27th). It was the Franco-Georgian Georges Mikautadze who sparked the revolt, finishing his first opportunity (32nd) after superb work from Giorgi Kochorashvili. The FC Metz striker even came close to the double a few minutes later.

After the second Turkish goal scored by Arda Güler, Willy Sagnol’s men missed a flurry of chances to equalize. The decisive passer Giorgi Kochorashvili first found the bar (70th), then missed the target from close range in added time (90th + 2). At the very end of the match, it was the post that saved Turkey on a free kick from Neapolitan Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, before Kerem Akturkoglu killed the match on a counter-attack from the final Georgian corner.