The Türkiye national football team lost 3-0 to Belgium at Maurice Dufrasne Stadium in Liège. Having lost their third match, the crescent-starred side remained at the bottom of its group, while Belgium increased its points total to six.
De Bruyne scores twice
Belgium took the lead in the 10th minute when Kevin De Bruyne struck from the edge of the penalty area. Arda Güler's shot, Abdülkerim Bardakcı's header and Merih Demiral's attempt failed to produce a goal for Türkiye in the first half. Belgium's Vanaken saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, while Lukebakio's effort came back off the post.
Belgium doubled its lead in the 59th minute when De Bruyne scored from outside the penalty area. Romelu Lukaku, who came on in the 76th minute, completed a cross from De Ketelaere to set the final score.
Türkiye created a scoring opportunity through Yunus Akgün in the second half, but goalkeeper Lammens denied him. Lammens also tipped Arda Güler's free kick in the 91st minute over the bar for a corner.
Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz suspended
Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz, who were on the yellow-card suspension limit before the match, became suspended after receiving yellow cards against Belgium. The two players will be unavailable for the national team's away match against Italy on October 5.
İlhan Fakılı makes his debut
İlhan Fakılı, called up to the squad for the first time, made his debut for the Türkiye national team when he replaced Oğuz Aydın in the 67th minute of the match against Belgium. For Belgium, Lukaku, who plays for Fenerbahçe, came on in the 61st minute, while Beşiktaş player Leandro Trossard entered the game in the 74th minute.
Montella: Opponents do not forgive mistakes
Türkiye national football team head coach Vincenzo Montella said after the match that the statistics showed a balanced game, but opponents punish mistakes made at this level. Montella said his players fought throughout the match, that the team entered the opponents' penalty area 40 times and that they needed to be more clinical.
Regarding the fans' chants calling for his resignation, Montella said he did not want to pay too much attention to the criticism. The Italian coach said expectations had risen over the past three years and added that he would continue working and that the team would focus on its remaining matches.
Montella said they were saddened by the suspensions of Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz and that they would prepare the other players for the Italy match. He added that the national team would not stop fighting and would act with the responsibility of representing the country.
Van Bommel: Everything was not perfect
Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel said he was pleased with the victory but that his team had not had enough possession, particularly in the first half. Van Bommel said they had given Türkiye important opportunities and that his players had been in the right positions, but added that they had fallen short in terms of aggressive pressing.
Van Bommel said he did not think De Bruyne, who scored twice, had deliberately received a yellow card. The Belgian coach said Lukaku's goal was a good feeling for him and added that the player could start in the first 11 in the future.
