TURKEY endured a nightmare start to Euro 2020 after a calamitous own goal sparked a second-half collapse against Italy.
Senol Gunes’ side had managed to keep the hosts at bay for the first 45 before Juventus defender Merih Demiral turned into his own net.
The 23-year-old – a long-term Premier League target – could feel very hard done by after the ball struck him from close distance.
Domenico Berardi had found space down the right and ghosted past Umut Meras on the outside with the Turkey defender also losing his footing.
Sassuolo winger Berardi didn’t have many options so chose instead to smash an effort across the face of the goal.
Demiral couldn’t react quick enough as the ball cannoned against his flailing body and past a despairing Ugurcan Cakir.
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And fans expressed their sympathy for the Juve star as one tweeted: “couldn’t have done much tbh, feel for demiral.”
Another said: “There’s literally nothing Demiral can do in that position.”
A third added: “Demiral saw Bonucci and Chiellini and thought they were in his team.”
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Demiral’s unfortunate strike was the first time in Euro history that the opening goal of the tournament has been an own goal.
And Turkey’s evening went from bad to worse as Ciro Immobile added a second from close range ten minutes later.
The Lazio man was also involved in Italy’s third as his pass found Lorenzo Insigne in the box and the Napoli ace guided an effort into the corner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
