Söyüncü Starts For Turkey In EURO 2020 Opener

- Leicester City defender Çağlar Söyüncü started Turkey's UEFA EURO 2020 opener on Friday
- The Crescent-Stars suffered a 3-0 defeat by Italy in the competition's first game in Rome 
- Cengiz Ünder, who spent 2020/21 on loan with the Foxes, also emerged from the bench for Turkey
- Five City players could also appear in the competition across a busy Saturday 

The 2020 tournament, delayed by a year due to COVID-19, will be played across the continent this summer, but it was Italy who hosted the opener, with Foxes defender Çağlar Söyüncü starting and 2020/21 loanee Cengiz Ünder emerging from the bench for Turkey.

Söyüncü, a key figure for the Crescent-Stars, helped Şenol Güneş' side keep eight clean sheets in qualifying and the 25-year-old was called upon again in the Italian capital. Friday's outing was the 37th time City's No.4 has represented his country since making a senior debut in 2016.

However, Roberto Mancini's Gli Azzurri, one-time winners of the competition, were dominant throughout the first period, with goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır being called upon to make a spectacular save to tip a Giorgio Chiellini header over the bar midway through the half.

It remained 0-0 at the interval and Turkey, the youngest side at EURO 2020, made a change with Ünder, who spent last season on loan at King Power Stadium from AS Roma, coming off the bench at the home venue of his parent club. He went close too, but Leonardo Spinazzola deflected his drive wide.

In the 53rd minute, though, the hosts went in front as Domenico Berardi's cross was sent into his own net by Juventus centre-back Merih Demiral, who had Ciro Immobile waiting in any event to finish behind him. Immobile then made it 2-0 on 66 minutes as Italy improved in front of goal.

Lorenzo Insigne added another for the four-time world champions with 11 minutes to play. Turkey, who reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, will be looking to pick up their first points this summer when they face Wales at Baku Olympic Stadium in Group A on Wednesday (5pm BST kick-off).

On Saturday, another five Foxes could feature, with Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne and Dennis Praet in the frame to feature for Belgium against Russia and Kasper Schmeichel is likely to star in Denmark's clash with Finland, while Danny Ward could also appear as Wales tackle Switzerland. 

Elsewhere, Daniel Amartey and Kamal Sowah will also be hoping to be involved as Ghana tackle Ivory Coast in a home international friendly. Make sure to check back to LCFC.com on Saturday evening for a full round-up on how each of the Club's representatives fare for their nations.