Montella: 'A new level for Türkiye, we played a little
October 7, 2026 ·
Vincenzo Montella assesses Türkiye's performance in the Nations League following their 3-1 defeat to Italy, revealing the need for experience and the challenge of competing at a higher level.
Montella: 'A new level for Türkiye, we played a little
According to Sports.
Background
Türkiye, under the guidance of Vincenzo Montella, is trying to adapt to the high demands of the Nations League. Even though the results are not satisfactory, the good performance shown by players like Aral Simsir can be a foundation for increasing the team's confidence in the upcoming matches.
Why this is important
The 3-1 defeat to Italy shows the challenges Türkiye faces at Nations League competition level. Although they put in a good performance, the difference in quality between the two teams was clear, especially with Italy able to utilize expensive players from the bench. This is a valuable lesson for Türkiye in increasing their experience and competitiveness at the international level.
Main Points
- Montella: 'A new level for Türkiye, we played a little.
- Vincenzo Montella assesses Türkiye's performance in the Nations League after their 3-1 defeat to Italy, revealing the need for experience and the challenge of competing at a higher level.
- Montella: ‘A new level for Turkiye, we played a little better than Italy’ - Yahoo Sports.
Vincenzo Montella, coach of the Turkish national team, revealed that his team was trying its best at a 'new level' in the Nations League competition after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Italy. Montella highlighted that Italy brought in high-priced players worth €350 million from the bench, showing the difference in quality between the two teams.
In that match, Türkiye showed quite a good performance by controlling the ball and forcing the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, to make several important saves. Türkiye even managed to equalize through Aral Simsir's goal after Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring for Italy. However, two goals from substitutes, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito, sealed a 3-1 win for Italy, leaving Türkiye languishing with no points after four games.
Montella in an interview with RAI Sport said, "I don't know if frustration is the right word, but we did play well. We played on par, maybe even a little better than Italy. We conceded three goals due to unlucky incidents; it's not the first time we've experienced this. As a coach, I'm satisfied with the attitude and character of these boys. The only thing I can regret is a less precise decision when finishing attacks or not closing moves in the penalty area. However, this is football, and everything depends on the details at the level I'm sure these players will gain a lot of experience from these matches, because small mistakes can be fatal and determine the final result.
Before this match, Montella was already facing calls to be sacked after poor results at the 2026 World Cup and defeat in all four matches in the Nations League. However, it is important to note that Montella led Türkiye to qualify for the World Cup after 24 years and also managed to promote his team to the League A Nations League. "It's not that things aren't going well, it's just a new level for us," stressed Montella. "Football can be very simple, sometimes you lose important players who change the level of the team. We decided to continue this process, and this is important for qualifying for the European Cup too."
Several key players such as Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Calhanoglu were unable to play in all of their Nations League matches due to injury, and Turkey also lost the suspended Baris Alper Yilmaz as well as young talent Arda Guler from Real Madrid. Montella added, "We introduced young players who don't have much experience, including at club level, because we are thinking about the future. If I look at the replacements that Italy put in, they brought in Calafiori, Esposito and Sandro Tonali, who had a total transfer fee of around €350 million. In this case, no one can be blamed, especially players who are able to defend well tactically and technically against high-quality opponents."
Now, Montella faces the risk of being relegated back to League B of the Nations League, and the biggest problem is his team's difficulty in completing chances. "Italy are on the right track, they have very exciting young players, and I also saw some of their Under-21 team playing earlier today. They may not have the big names like in the past, but this is a very competitive squad, led by a very smart, experienced and balanced coach in Roberto Mancini."
What happened next
After this defeat, Türkiye will try to correct the mistakes that occurred and look for ways to get points in the next match in the Nations League. Montella hopes that the experience from this match will help his players develop and be better prepared to face future challenges. With four games without a point, their focus is now on building positive momentum in the remaining competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the score of Türkiye vs Italy?
Türkiye lost 3-1 to Italy.
How will this result impact Türkiye's position in the Nations League table?
Türkiye are down with no points after four matches.
Who scored the goal for Türkiye in this match?
The goal for Türkiye was scored by Aral Simsir.
When is the next match for the Turkish national team?
Information about the next matches for the Turkish national team has not been provided in the article.
What did Vincenzo Montella say about his team's performance?
Montella stated that his team played quite well and maybe even a little better than Italy.