Turkey blanks Albania 2-0 in EURO 2020 Qualifiers

ISTANBUL- Anadolu Agency

The Turkish National Football team shutout Albania in its first match on March 22 in the European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020.       

The 2-0 victory was in an away match at Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder.       

Turkey's Burak Yılmaz gave visitors an early lead as he scored the opening goal at the 21st minute. Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored an insurance goal at the start of the second half in the 55th minute.       

Turkey is in Group H with France, Iceland, Albania, Moldova and Andorra.       

Beşiktaş manager Şenol Güneş led Turkey against Albania before officially becoming the team's manager for a four-year term starting June 1.       

Earlier this month, the Turkish National Football team and head coach Mircea Lucescu mutually terminated their contract.       

During Lucescu's tenure, Turkey failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.       

Güneş previously brought Turkey to third place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup during his only time at the head of the team.  

Albanian coach Christian Panucci has been fired a day after his team lost to Turkey in a European Championship qualifier.

In a statement Saturday, the Albanian soccer federation said it had terminated the 46-year-old Italian's contract.

In the meantime, Iceland defeated Andorra 2-0 while France beat Moldova 4-1 in other Group H matches.       

On March 25, Turkey will play against Moldova at home in Eskişehir in the second group matches.       

The European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020 kicked off on March 21.

The winner and runner-up from 10 groups each will automatically qualify for the UEFA EURO 2020 final tournament.       

The EURO 2020 qualifiers will determine 20 teams while four others will qualify from the UEFA Nations League playoffs in March 2020.