England 2-1 Turkey
By Nick Powell
England put in an underwhelming performance but did enough to edge Turkey in their opening friendly as they build up to the 2016 Euros.
England broke through after just 3 minutes, as an offside Harry Kane was undetected and turned to sidefoot England into the lead.
A catalogue of mistakes led Hakan Calhanoglu having an easy tap in to equalise for Turkey.
After Jamie Vardy was fouled, it seemed as if England would be handed an easy chance to take the lead, but Harry Kane blazed the resulting penalty against the outside of the post.
England looked set to fall short of victory against the group D side in next months upcoming Euros but Vardy scored his third goal in as many England games as he popped up at the back post to give England a late winner.
England were missing their captain Wayne Rooney and key centre back Chris Smalling, which was likely to leave their defence vulnerable and they didn't have great experience going forward either.
But they were creating chances from the very first minute, if Jamie Vardy had managed a better first touch after being slid in by Kane England would have taken the lead.
They led soon after though, assister became assisted as Kane's Spurs team mate slipped him in and he finished in the corner. Kane was a fair bit offside but that was not picked up and the golden boot winner provided a clinical finish from 12 yards out.
The visitors were almost instantly level in an end to end start with both teams having opportunities. Hakan Calhanoglu laid the ball back from wide on the right, Ozan Tufan was in a pocket of space and drove in a low shot that was brilliantly blocked by Kyle Walker, and Joe Hart had to make another save inside the first five minute to continue the high-tempo start.
England continued to play entertaining football but it was Turkey who scored next. It was almost a comedy of errors, poor headers gave them the ball in the England half and after Volka Sen was slipped in on the right past Danny Rose and Hart charged out. He had to get the ball, and didn't, leaving Sen is able to pick out Hakan Calhanoglu in the middle for a tap-in.
The first half continued to be a very entertaining affair with England's defence allowing Turkey to create chances playing quite basic football, but looking very good in attack. England went into half time level but could be pretty happy with the way they had played.
Cenk Tosun looked incredibly dangerous at the start of the second period. First, escaping his marker at the near post but flicking wide and then the English defence stood off and he spun away from John Stones to slam a left-footed shot a yard wide of the corner, which would have been unsaveable for Joe Hart.
They continued to attack, Hakan Balta heading narrowly wide in just one of many chances that Turkey were managing to create. England had had their moments, but Turkey had been the better side and would have been buoyed heading into the final quarter.
And that would have made the penalty they conceded all the more frustrating. In an almost identical situation to the dive he had seen red for against West Ham, Vardy ran in front of the last man and found the contact to earn the penalty that would have won the game. It was perhaps fair that, Harry Kane missed the ensuing spot-kick.
But soon Vardy found the winner, from a corner a fantastic header from Cahill left Turkish keeper Volkan Babacan and the rebounded ball fell to Vardy who managed to score via a deflection of Babacan. England managed to hold on, despite a glorious chance for Olcay Sahan which forced a terrific save from Joe Hart to give England the win.
Nick's Notes
England's defence did look really vulnerable, and it is difficult to look beyond that and despite a really strong attacking performance in the first half, England's attack did fade before picking up in the last half hour. John Stones continued his woeful form from this season at the back and the more experienced Gary Cahill was far from convincing leaving the lone defensive midfielder Eric Dier with just too much to do but whilst they made errors in the build up to the first goal, Hart can be blamed for the equaliser, flying out of the goal just a little bit too wide which gave Turkey the chance to slot home with ease. Having said that his late save was impressive and vital, so there is less concern in that department.
Offensively England were better, but as said they did not shine at the start of the second half but they need to gel and as more players are introduced that attack will be very dangerous at the tournament itself. Vardy's penalty displayed exactly why Leicester have won so many this season, it was a dive, it was intentional. Kane did miss the penalty but that should not be of concern as Rooney nails his whenever he has to step up, having said that, if it came to a shootout, Kane would need to do a lot better than he did. All in all, England weren't spectacular but they were competent, and that will be enough to win them their group if they can sort their defence out.
Turkey looked dangerous and whilst they didn't manage to get the win they are certainly capable of causing their opposition problems, it is a tough group they have, but with three teams going through there is a possibility they could make it. There is a simplicity to their attack but in Calhanoglu and Tosun they have some top finishers and are able to call on the likes of Mevlut Erdinc and Olcay Sahan off an impressive bench which could be vital if they can make it to the knockout stages.
Man of the Match: Jamie Vardy
By Nick Powell
England broke through after just 3 minutes, as an offside Harry Kane was undetected and turned to sidefoot England into the lead.
A catalogue of mistakes led Hakan Calhanoglu having an easy tap in to equalise for Turkey.
After Jamie Vardy was fouled, it seemed as if England would be handed an easy chance to take the lead, but Harry Kane blazed the resulting penalty against the outside of the post.
England looked set to fall short of victory against the group D side in next months upcoming Euros but Vardy scored his third goal in as many England games as he popped up at the back post to give England a late winner.
England were missing their captain Wayne Rooney and key centre back Chris Smalling, which was likely to leave their defence vulnerable and they didn't have great experience going forward either.
But they were creating chances from the very first minute, if Jamie Vardy had managed a better first touch after being slid in by Kane England would have taken the lead.
They led soon after though, assister became assisted as Kane's Spurs team mate slipped him in and he finished in the corner. Kane was a fair bit offside but that was not picked up and the golden boot winner provided a clinical finish from 12 yards out.
Kane helped England make a dream start
The visitors were almost instantly level in an end to end start with both teams having opportunities. Hakan Calhanoglu laid the ball back from wide on the right, Ozan Tufan was in a pocket of space and drove in a low shot that was brilliantly blocked by Kyle Walker, and Joe Hart had to make another save inside the first five minute to continue the high-tempo start.
England continued to play entertaining football but it was Turkey who scored next. It was almost a comedy of errors, poor headers gave them the ball in the England half and after Volka Sen was slipped in on the right past Danny Rose and Hart charged out. He had to get the ball, and didn't, leaving Sen is able to pick out Hakan Calhanoglu in the middle for a tap-in.
The first half continued to be a very entertaining affair with England's defence allowing Turkey to create chances playing quite basic football, but looking very good in attack. England went into half time level but could be pretty happy with the way they had played.
Cenk Tosun looked incredibly dangerous at the start of the second period. First, escaping his marker at the near post but flicking wide and then the English defence stood off and he spun away from John Stones to slam a left-footed shot a yard wide of the corner, which would have been unsaveable for Joe Hart.
They continued to attack, Hakan Balta heading narrowly wide in just one of many chances that Turkey were managing to create. England had had their moments, but Turkey had been the better side and would have been buoyed heading into the final quarter.
And that would have made the penalty they conceded all the more frustrating. In an almost identical situation to the dive he had seen red for against West Ham, Vardy ran in front of the last man and found the contact to earn the penalty that would have won the game. It was perhaps fair that, Harry Kane missed the ensuing spot-kick.
It was a well-struck but poorly directed penalty from the Spurs frontman
But soon Vardy found the winner, from a corner a fantastic header from Cahill left Turkish keeper Volkan Babacan and the rebounded ball fell to Vardy who managed to score via a deflection of Babacan. England managed to hold on, despite a glorious chance for Olcay Sahan which forced a terrific save from Joe Hart to give England the win.
Vardy got England over the line in the end
Nick's Notes
England's defence did look really vulnerable, and it is difficult to look beyond that and despite a really strong attacking performance in the first half, England's attack did fade before picking up in the last half hour. John Stones continued his woeful form from this season at the back and the more experienced Gary Cahill was far from convincing leaving the lone defensive midfielder Eric Dier with just too much to do but whilst they made errors in the build up to the first goal, Hart can be blamed for the equaliser, flying out of the goal just a little bit too wide which gave Turkey the chance to slot home with ease. Having said that his late save was impressive and vital, so there is less concern in that department.
Offensively England were better, but as said they did not shine at the start of the second half but they need to gel and as more players are introduced that attack will be very dangerous at the tournament itself. Vardy's penalty displayed exactly why Leicester have won so many this season, it was a dive, it was intentional. Kane did miss the penalty but that should not be of concern as Rooney nails his whenever he has to step up, having said that, if it came to a shootout, Kane would need to do a lot better than he did. All in all, England weren't spectacular but they were competent, and that will be enough to win them their group if they can sort their defence out.
Turkey looked dangerous and whilst they didn't manage to get the win they are certainly capable of causing their opposition problems, it is a tough group they have, but with three teams going through there is a possibility they could make it. There is a simplicity to their attack but in Calhanoglu and Tosun they have some top finishers and are able to call on the likes of Mevlut Erdinc and Olcay Sahan off an impressive bench which could be vital if they can make it to the knockout stages.
Man of the Match: Jamie Vardy
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