Key Takeaways:
- Belgium came from behind to defeat Turkiye 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday
- Turkiye suffered their fifth consecutive loss, finishing bottom of Group A1 after this result
- Arda Guler’s spectacular free-kick was not enough to secure points for Sergen Yalcin’s side
Match Analysis
Belgium staged an impressive comeback to beat Turkiye 2-1 in a lively UEFA Nations League fixture on Thursday, leaving the hosts anchored at the bottom of Group A1 with a fifth successive defeat. The match marked the beginning of Sergen Yalcin’s reign as Turkiye manager, following his appointment last month, but the Crescent Stars’ renewed optimism yielded little reward by the final whistle.
Belgium turn it around against Türkiye 💪
#NationsLeague https://t.co/FOqw6aSTaG
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) November 12, 2026
Early Turkish Promise and Guler’s Moment of Brilliance
The hosts started brightly, displaying attractive attacking football under Yalcin’s guidance. Their encouraging opening could have unravelled early had referee Sandro Scharer opted to award a penalty for Merih Demiral’s challenge on Nathan Ngoy inside the penalty area. Nevertheless, Turkiye pressed on and claimed a deserved lead in the 20th minute. Nicolas Raskin fouled Arda Guler on the edge of the box, providing the Real Madrid talent with a set-piece opportunity. Guler expertly curled his free-kick into the top corner, far beyond Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ reach.
Belgium’s Swift Response and First-Half Turnaround
The hosts’ vulnerability, a recurring theme throughout their Nations League campaign, resurfaced shortly after taking charge. In the 27th minute, Jeremy Doku outmanoeuvred Oguz Aydin on the left flank and delivered a precise pass to Kevin De Bruyne, who made no mistake with a powerful, first-time finish into the roof of the net. Belgium’s momentum carried them forward, and just three minutes later, Charles De Ketelaere benefitted from defensive lapses. Following a strong save from Ugurcan Cakir on Diego Moreira’s shot, Maxim De Cuyper found De Ketelaere who slotted home to make it 2-1 before half-time.
| Team | Score | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|
| Turkiye | 1 | Arda Guler (20’) |
| Belgium | 2 | Kevin De Bruyne (27’), Charles De Ketelaere (30’) |
Second-Half Developments and Key Performances
After the interval, Belgium pushed to increase their lead, creating further opportunities for De Bruyne and Doku, while De Ketelaere was denied a brace by a strong stop from Cakir. Turkiye’s swift counterattacks prompted a solid response from Lammens, notably when he turned away Baris Yilmaz’s effort. In the closing stages, Deniz Gul threatened an equaliser, but Lammens again preserved Belgium’s advantage with a crucial save.
The match closed with no further goals, marking a disappointing start for Yalcin and putting Turkiye’s League A position at serious risk. Belgium’s victory lifts them above Italy into second place, pending the outcome of Italy’s meeting with France later that evening.
