ANKARA 

Turkey’s president congratulated the Turkish national football team early Thursday after they defeated the Netherlands 4-2 last night at Ataturk Olympic Stadium to start their 2022 FIFA World Cup journey. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with the players and the team’s coach, Senol Gunes, via the mobile phone of Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, who met with the players in the locker room after the game.

Erdogan, who mentioned he was able to catch up to watch the last 15 minutes of the match due to congressional work, said he was very happy with the victorious result.

"In such a period, our national team beat a team like the Netherlands with a score of 4-2, which really gave our nation a special pride," said Erdogan.

He especially congratulated team captain Burak Yilmaz and coach Gunes.

*Writing by Merve Berker