Kroupi on target as France clinch Nations League quarters spot

Detailed summary

Eli Junior Kroupi scored his first France goal as Les Bleus beat Turkey 2-1 on Sunday to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League.

Eli Junior Kroupi scored his first France goal as Les Bleus beat Turkey 2-1 on Sunday to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League.

France needed a draw in their last Group A1 outing to make sure of their progress to the quarter-finals next March, and they went ahead just after half-time in Bordeaux via an Emirhan Topcu own goal.

Bournemouth forward Kroupi, 20, replaced Bradley Barcola just past the hour and made it 2-0 from a Rayan Cherki assist, before Abdulkerim Bardakci pulled one back for Turkey at the death.

"At first I thought I was offside, but when I saw the goal had been given it was an incredible feeling," Kroupi, who has only just returned after missing the first two months of the season due to injury, told broadcaster TF1.

"Of course I was thinking about my injury. I hope I have left all that behind me and I can look forward now."

The result allowed Zinedine Zidane's French side to bounce back from a 3-1 loss away to Italy on Thursday as they finish on top of their group with 13 points, one point ahead of Belgium.

The Belgians also progress into the quarter-finals after coming from behind to thrash Italy 4-1 in Brussels.

France, who won the Nations League in 2021, are therefore guaranteed to play a runner-up from one of the other groups in League A in the quarters, the draw for which will take place this coming Friday.

World Cup winners Spain are among their potential opponents in the last eight.

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