Turkey got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a thrilling start on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Georgia that brought delight to a passionate army of fans in soaking wet Dortmund.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler crashed in a brilliant goal in the 65th minute at a Westfalenstadion dominated by tens of thousands of Turkey supporters before Kerem Akturkoglu rolled home the third deep in stoppage time as Georgia pushed for a late leveller.
Guler, 19, had a difficult time with injuries in his first season in Madrid but stepped up for Turkey in a fiercely-contested match with Georgia, who did not look out of place in their first-ever match at a major international tournament.
Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze levelled Mert Muldur’s 25th-minute opener for Turkey just after the half-hour mark, and were denied a second equaliser by the woodwork and a series of saves and blocks.
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But Akturkoglu made sure Turkey would top the group ahead of Portugal’s opening match with the Czech Republic later on Tuesday.
Turkey took the cue from their fervent support and went at Georgia from the off, pressuring their inexperienced opposition high up the pitch as a huge din came rolling down the stands.
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