France v Türkiye
France beat Türkiye to top group, advance to Nations League quarterfinals
France booked their place in the Nations League quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over Türkiye in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane suffered defeat for the first time since succeeding Didier Deschamps against Italy on Thursday but, back in the city where he spent four seasons as a player, the former midfielder oversaw a much-needed win.
Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi scored his first international goal in the 80th minute after Emirhan Topcu's own goal, and Abdulkerim Bardakci's late header proved only a consolation.
Adrien Rabiot was the big threat for France early on, drawing Berke Özer into a good save at his near post in the sixth minute and then heading full debutant Sael Kumbedi's cross over the bar.
A flurry of openings for Les Bleus saw Rayan Cherki roll a shot past a post, Rabiot have an effort blocked before Ozer got down sharply to keep out an effort from Kylian Mbappé, who was back in the side.
It was not entirely backs-to-the-wall for Türkiye, who were looking for their first point, and Ibrahima Konaté had to be alert to thwart Deniz Gül.
France had a golden chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Mbappe set Bradley Barcola away down the left but he was unable to lift the ball over Ozer.
Mike Maignan was then called on at the other end to produce an excellent stop after Can Uzan played in Ismail Yüksek.
Ozer was much the busier keeper, though, and he impressed again with saves from Mbappe and Michael Olise, while Mbappe had the ball in the net in the 39th minute but was immediately flagged offside.
Guillaume Restes replaced Maignan in goal for France for the second half, and four minutes after the break they finally took the lead.
A corner from the left was flicked on by Rabiot, with Topcu getting the final touch after Barcola had slid in to try to convert.
Arda Güler thought he had equalised only four minutes later, and Türkiye were furious that the strike was eventually ruled out for a marginal offside.
Only some excellent last-ditch defending from Jérémy Jacquet denied Guler when he threatened again, while France's push for a second was foiled twice in quick succession by Ozer, who first denied Olise and then produced his best save of the night to thwart Mbappe.
There was a feeling that France might need a second, and they almost presented Guler with an equaliser trying to pass across the back but Türkiye's star man rolled his shot agonisingly wide of a post.
Mbappé looked certain to score with 15 minutes remaining only for Merih Demiral to hurl himself into a goal-saving block, but it was substitute Kroupi who finally beat Ozer again, tucking away Cherki's through ball.
There was still time for a nervous finish after Bardakci headed in a 90th-minute corner, but France held on.

