Turkish Stunner Tops European Qualifying
Statisticians had to dig deep into their record books after the latest round of qualifying games for Euro 2000, the European Championship to be played in Belgium and the Netherlands two summers from now.
Startling results were common, not the least of which the defeat of reigning champion Germany by Turkey.
The Turks had not beaten the Germans for 47 years, but a headed goal by Hakan Sukur, Turkey’s top goal scorer the past two seasons, gave them a 1-0 victory in Bursa.
“We are not afraid of the Germans,” Turkey’s Coach, Mustafa Denizli, said before the game. “We are strong enough to beat them.”
In Moscow, meanwhile, France accomplished something it had never done before. The reigning world champion defeated Russia on its home soil, 3-2, on a late goal by Alain Boghossian.
“We’ve shown we know how to dig deep,” captain Didier Deschamps said. “Those qualities won us the World Cup and we showed them again tonight.”
Striker Nicolas Anelka, 19, scored one goal and assisted on another, giving Coach Roger Lemerre his first victory since taking charge of France after the World Cup.
Scotland, which began international play in 1872, had not won in nine consecutive games, its worst string ever, but it managed a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Estonia in Edinburgh.
Afterward, Scottish goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who had played 91 matches for Scotland and appeared in four World Cup tournaments, announced his retirement from the national team at age 40.
In Copenhagen, meanwhile, 1992 European champion Denmark suffered a surprising upset when it lost, 2-1, to Wales on an 86th-minute goal by 19-year-old Craig Bellamy.
“They had one real chance and got two goals,” moaned Denmark Coach Bo Johansson. “This is soccer at its worst.”
Italy, which had beaten Wales in its first qualifying game, continued on a winning course with a 2-0 victory over Switzerland in Udinese. Alessandro Del Piero, 23, a flop at the World Cup but now regaining form and confidence, scored both goals.
“Losing in Italy is acceptable because Italy is a good side,” Switzerland Coach Gilbert Gress said. “But losing to Italy in this [uninspired] manner is not acceptable.”
Cyprus, which had stunned Spain, 3-2, in its opening game, a result that led to the resignation of Javier Clemente as Spain’s coach, was not so lucky against Austria and lost, 3-0, in Larnaca.
In other matches, with the home team listed first, England was booed off the field after being held to a 0-0 tie by Bulgaria, a result that has the media and fans calling for Coach Glen Hoddle to resign; Latvia defeated Georgia, 1-0; Slovenia lost to Norway, 1-0; Northern Ireland blanked Finland, 1-0; Armenia and Iceland played to a 0-0 tie; Andorra was shut out by Ukraine, 2-0, and Poland beat Luxembourg, 3-0.
Also, San Marino was routed, 5-0, by Israel; Azerbaijan suffered a 4-0 loss to Hungary; Liechtenstein lost to Slovakia, 4-0; Portugal was edged, 1-0, by Romania; Malta scored first but was trounced by Croatia, 4-1; Bosnia lost to the Czech Republic, 3-1, and Lithuania and the Faroe Islands tied, 0-0.
Qualifying play continues with 22 matches today.
Noteworthy: Former Dutch national team star Frank Rijkaard was victorious in his first game in charge of the Netherlands, a 2-0 win over Peru in Eindhoven on goals by Jaap Stam and Peter van Vossen.
