• France forward Antoine Griezmann gets tackled by Turkey's defender Merih Demiral at the Stade de France. AFP
    France forward Antoine Griezmann gets tackled by Turkey's defender Merih Demiral at the Stade de France. AFP
  • France's Moussa Sissoko, front, fights for the ball with Turkey's Mahmut Tekdemir during their Euro 2020 Group H qualifying match in Paris. AP
    France's Moussa Sissoko, front, fights for the ball with Turkey's Mahmut Tekdemir during their Euro 2020 Group H qualifying match in Paris. AP
  • Turkey's midfielder Irfan Kahveci, left, vies for the ball with France's defender Benjamin Pavard. AFP
    Turkey's midfielder Irfan Kahveci, left, vies for the ball with France's defender Benjamin Pavard. AFP
  • England's Raheem Sterling, right, after scoring against Bulgaria in the Euro 2020 qualifying Group A match at the Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia. EPA
    England's Raheem Sterling, right, after scoring against Bulgaria in the Euro 2020 qualifying Group A match at the Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia. EPA
  • England scored six goals against Bulgaria. Press Association
    England scored six goals against Bulgaria. Press Association
  • The match between Bulgaria and England at the Vasil Levski National Stadium was marred by racist chants. Reuters
    The match between Bulgaria and England at the Vasil Levski National Stadium was marred by racist chants. Reuters
  • Serbia's Nemanja Maksimovic takes on Lithuania's Karolis Laukzemis during their Group B match in Vilnius. Reuters
    Serbia's Nemanja Maksimovic takes on Lithuania's Karolis Laukzemis during their Group B match in Vilnius. Reuters
  • Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic, centre, and Lithuania's Modestas Vorobjovas, right, challenge for the ball during their Euro 2020 Group B qualifying match at the LFF stadium in Vilnius. AP
    Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic, centre, and Lithuania's Modestas Vorobjovas, right, challenge for the ball during their Euro 2020 Group B qualifying match at the LFF stadium in Vilnius. AP
  • Montenegro's Aleksandar Scekic, left, with Kosovo's Benjamin Kololli during their Euro 2020 Group A qualifying match in Pristina, Kosovo. EPA
    Montenegro's Aleksandar Scekic, left, with Kosovo's Benjamin Kololli during their Euro 2020 Group A qualifying match in Pristina, Kosovo. EPA
  • Albania's Sokol Cikalleshi, centre, surrounded by team reacts after scoring during their Euro 2020 Group H qualifying match against Moldova at the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau. EPA
    Albania's Sokol Cikalleshi, centre, surrounded by team reacts after scoring during their Euro 2020 Group H qualifying match against Moldova at the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau. EPA

France forced to wait for Euro 2020 spot after tense draw against Turkey


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France drew 1-1 with Turkey in Euro 2020 qualifying in a match played against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between Paris and Ankara.

Substitute Olivier Giroud headed in from a corner to put France ahead on 76 minutes at the Stade de France but Kaan Ayhan nodded in an equaliser six minutes later – a goal celebrated by a military salute in front of the Turkish supporters.

Turkey remain top of Group H above the world champions on the head-to-head rule, although France can qualify for the finals with a win at home to Moldova next month.

Turkey would clinch their place by avoiding defeat against third-placed Iceland, who are four points back after beating Andorra 2-0.

"They scored a goal from a set-piece in the first match. We could have avoided it," said France manager Didier Deschamps, whose side were beaten 2-0 by Turkey in Konya in June.

"We did what we needed to win the match based on the play and number of chances. They didn't have many but put away a set-piece.

"We should have been more clinical even if it's still a good point. We're still on track and need to finish to job in November."

Wissam Ben Yedder replaced Giroud, Friday's goalscorer in the 1-0 win away to Iceland, while Lucas Hernandez returned at left-back at the expense of Lucas Digne.

Turkey were without injured veteran captain Emre Belozoglu, who damaged ribs during a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home to Albania last week, with Leicester defender Caglar Soyuncu starting in place of Ayhan.

Police ramped up security at the Stade de France amid fears of violence, with around 3,800 Turkish fans in the designated away section but many more seated elsewhere in the ground among the 78,000 spectators.

While Antoine Griezmann has yet to properly settle at Barcelona this season, the forward emerged at the heart of France's best moments in the first half as Turkey were forced to absorb constant pressure.

Bayern Munich team-mates Lucas Hernandez and Kingsley Coman combined superbly to release Griezmann on the quarter-hour, but Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok blocked well before producing a magnificent save to repel Moussa Sissoko's follow-up effort.

Griezmann then headed a Coman cross directly at Gunok who plunged to his left moments later after a clever dummy from the striker created another opening for Sissoko.

Without a goal now for France in the past six qualifiers, Griezmann again went close when he curled wide of a sprawling Gunok and the far post from the edge of the area.

Turkey coach Senol Gunes introduced Hakan Calhanoglu at the break to provide more of an attacking threat, with the AC Milan playmaker helping create the visitors' first genuine chance on the hour.

Ayhan came on in the 53rd minute for injured Zeki Celik.

Seconds after a Griezmann penalty appeal was dismissed, Turkey exposed France on the counter with Calhanoglu teeing up Burak Yilmaz who drilled over with just Steve Mandanda to beat.

Deschamps turned to Giroud for the final 20 minutes and was instantly rewarded as the Chelsea striker powered in a Griezmann corner for his 38th France goal, moving him three shy of Michel Platini on the French all-time scoring list.

Elsewhere, Ukraine qualified from Group B with a win over Portugal. Serbia were in third place in the group following their 2-1 over Lithuania.

Also, Iceland kept alive their qualification hopes with a 2-0 win over visiting Andorra. Iceland have 15 point and needs to beat Turkey in the next round.

Iceland secured victory through goals from Arnor Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, with Albania fourth on 12 points following a 4-0 away win against Moldova.