As Kylian Mbappe prepares to join Real Madrid’s roster of attacking stars, Arda Guler is poised for a challenging battle to secure a spot in Europe’s top team.
The Turkish teenager showed promise during his international tournament debut on Tuesday, bolstering his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young talents. Guler, 19, scored a stunning second-half goal to help Turkey secure a 3-1 victory over debutant Georgia in a thrilling European Championship match.
After a solid end to his first season at Real Madrid, Guler brought his momentum to the Euros, cutting in from the right and curling a fierce shot into the top corner in the 65th minute. This goal restored Turkey’s lead at 2-1 and made Guler the youngest debut scorer at the Euros, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record from 2004.
Substitute Kerem Aktürkoğlu added Turkey’s third goal in the final seconds of stoppage time, concluding a back-and-forth Group F match in Dortmund, which was marked by pre-game fan disorder and played in a highly charged atmosphere.
This game was a significant moment for Georgia, a South Caucasus nation with a population of 3.7 million, making its debut in an international tournament since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, amid domestic protests and political unrest.
Georgia’s players handled the intense atmosphere well, equalizing through Georges Mikautadze in the 32nd minute after Mert Muldur had given Turkey a 1-0 lead with a volleyed finish in the 25th minute.
Guler’s crucial intervention was part of a trend of spectacular long-range goals at this tournament. His talent, evident in his five goals in five games at the end of the Spanish league season, was on full display. Despite being an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s Champions League final win, Guler’s potential is clear.
With Mbappe and Brazilian forward Endrick joining Real Madrid, Guler’s quest for game time may become tougher next season. However, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti recognizes Guler’s talent. Guler shared, “Ancelotti is motivating me a lot. Of course I’m happy to have scored my first goal for Turkey — I hope this first match shows us the way forward.”
Georgia, ranked No. 75 and the lowest-ranked team at Euro 2024, came close to securing a draw in a frenetic match. In stoppage time, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili upfield, Georgia hit the post from a free kick, and a subsequent shot was cleared off the line.
From the resulting corner, with Mamardashvili still in the box, Turkey cleared the ball, allowing Aktürkoğlu to run unchallenged and score into an empty net.
The final whistle blew immediately after the restart, and Turkey’s players celebrated with their fans. Unlike their disappointing performance at Euro 2021, Turkey, under Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, has brought an exciting, youthful squad with the tournament’s second-youngest average age.
Guler emerged as the standout player, setting up five chances and showcasing his technical skill and creativity. Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a key player for Napoli, was largely contained until the final minutes when he played a significant role in his team’s late attacks.
Despite hitting the goal frame twice in the closing moments — including a solo run by Giorgi Kochorashvili — Georgia’s players were left in despair at the final whistle.
