Belgium started their Euro 2012 qualifying match against Turkey in impressive fashion, scoring an early goal to go up 1-0. They absolutely controlled the first 20 minutes of the game, but Turkey were able to find a first half equalizer, very much against the run of play. Belgium continued to control the game until the halftime whistle blew, but they couldn’t find another goal.
Belgium Vs. Turkey, Euro 2012 Qualifying: 1-1 Full Time
The second half was much less eventful than the first, as the teams more or less limped to a 1-1 draw in fairly unimpressive fashion. The second half was as surprising as it was disappointing when you consider how much each team had to gain by winning the match. After the draw, Belgium sits in second place in Group A, one point ahead of Turkey.
Belgium absolutely should have won the game, but star midfielder Axel Witsel from Standard Liege had an absolutely horrid miss when it was much easier to score, eventually causing Turkey to be gifted a share of the points.
Turkey’s play to close the game was incredibly tight and cautious, which was disappointing from a team coached by a great attack-minded manager like Guus Hiddink. The English language press have linked him to the vacant Chelsea job, while the Turkish press have speculated that Hiddink could be fired if he failed to win this game, so don’t be shocked to see Hiddink and Turkey part ways by mutual consent in the very near future.
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