WORLD'S -CUP-2022- WHIRLS : FOOTBALL

PARIS : France draw Ukraine, Turkey beat Netherlands : Defending champions play 1-1 stalemate, Dutch lose 4-2.

The Netherlands slumped to a dramatic 4-2 defeat by by Turkey in their opening 2022 World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday, while reigning champions France were held by Ukraine despite a brilliant Antoine Greizmann goal and Belgium came from behind to beat Wales.

European champions Portugal battled to a 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan, but 2018 World Cup runners up Croatia lost 1-0 in Slovenia as they started their bid to reach the finals in Qatar.

In Istanbul, Turkey led 3-0 shortly after half-time through two Burak Yilmaz goals and a Hakan Calhanoglu strike, but substitutes Davy Klaasen and Luuk de Jong gave Frank de Boer's Dutchmen hope.

Yilmaz's wonderful free kick sealed him a hat-trick and Turkey a crucial win, though. in a match between the two favourites to qualify from Group G.

''Very disappointing result, and also the way that result came about,'' De Boer told NOS TV.

The defeat was a dreadful start to the campaign for the Netherlands, who failed to qualify for either Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup, but are one of the fancied sides ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 finals this year. [AFP]