Wales began the Craig Bellamy era with a 0-0 Nations League Group B draw against 10-man Turkey in Cardiff.
New boss Bellamy did not get the victory he would have craved at kick-off but it was a positive performance from Wales against opponents who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 this summer.
Wales' task was made slightly easier by the 62nd-minute dismissal of Baris Alper Yilmaz, banished for treading on Neco Williams’ foot after unnecessarily confronting Joe Rodon before the break to merit a first yellow card.
But still a Wales winner would not come on a night when Sorba Thomas saw his effort wiped out for offside and Aaron Ramsey and Joe Rodon passed up clear-cut opportunities.
Bellamy cut a calm figure on the touchline after selecting nine of the players that started Wales’ last competitive fixture – the Euro 2024 play-off final defeat to Poland in March.
Skipper Ramsey made his first Wales appearance in almost a year dominated by injury issues, while Thomas went straight into the line-up after an 18-month absence when he was excluded from Rob Page’s final squads.
Turkey were without captain Hakan Calhanoglu, the Inter Milan Ballon d’Or candidate nursing an injury on the bench, as Vincenzo Montella’s side returned to action for the first time since shining in Germany.
Arda Guler, the Real Madrid teenager with fond memories of scoring a spectacular first international goal against Wales in June 2023, did start but was quiet throughout.
The two sides had met as recently as November in Euro 2024 qualifying, with a controversial Cardiff contest ending 1-1.
The fractious nature of that affair was replicated with eight bookings, including two for Yilmaz and a member of their coaching staff.
Elsewhere in Group 4, Orri Oskarsson and Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson struck in either half to earn Iceland a 2-0 victory over Montenegro.
Italy scored twice in the second half to come from behind and beat France in the first game of Nations League A Group 2.
It did not take long for France to take the lead at the Parc des Princes when Bradley Barcola smashed home inside 13 seconds but Italy pulled level after Federico Dimarco played a neat one-two with Sandro Tonali and sent a superb volley into the top corner.
Italy turned the game on its head in the 51st minute courtesy of Davide Frattesi and the visitors sealed a stunning turnaround victory when Destiny Udogie played in Giacomo Raspadori, who stabbed beyond Mike Maignan to register three points.
Kevin De Bruyne struck twice to help Belgium earn a 3-1 victory over Israel in the same group.
The Belgians hit the front in the 21st minute with a goal made in Manchester – City team-mate Jeremy Doku linked up with De Bruyne as the former worked the ball down the left and passed into De Bruyne who lashed home to make it 1-0.
Israel were on level terms 10 minutes before the break as Anan Khalaily's header looked to be going off target until it bounced off Fulham full-back Timothy Castagne and into the back of the net.
Belgium’s quality showed in the second period as they blew their opponents away with two further goals, Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans on target before De Bruyne tucked home from the penalty spot. A second penalty, from Lois Openda, was saved by Yoav Gerafi.
In Group 3 of Nations League B, Erling Haaland was unable to recreate his domestic goalscoring form as Norway were forced to share the spoils in a goalless draw with Kazakhstan despite having 19 shots.
Slovenia and Austria took home a point each from their first Nations League match following a 1-1 draw.
Benjamin Sesko’s first-half penalty was cancelled out 12 minutes later as Konrad Laimer pounced on a ball in the box and finished from close range.
In League C, Ioannis Pittas struck in the first half to earn Cyprus a 1-0 win over Lithuania.
Dennis Man, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus scored as Romania earned a convincing 3-0 victory over Kosovo, who had Mergim Vojvoda sent off late on.
Watch Republic of Ireland v England in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday from 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
