Turkey began their preparations for Euro 2008 with a 1-0 friendly victory over Slovakia.
Turkey make winning start to Euro 2008 preparations
Turkey began their preparations for Euro 2008 with a 1-0 friendly victory over Slovakia at the Ataturk Stadium on Tuesday.
A second half strike from Hakan Balta proved to be enough to settle a hard-fought encounter.
Turkey named a strong starting XI containing Middlesbrough forward Tuncay Sanli, Newcastle midfielder Emre and Fenerbahce attacker Colin Kazim-Richards.
However, the home side - who have been drawn in Group A alongside Czech Republic, Portugal and Switzerland in the finals of Euro 2008 - struggled in a goalless first half.
Slovakia, who had Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel in their first-team, failed to reach this summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland but they proved stubborn opposition.
After the interval, though, Turkey broke the deadlock as Galatasaray defender Hakan hit the back of the net with a left-footed drive on 64 minutes.
Turkey's next warm-up match is against Uruguay on Sunday in the German city of Bochum.
