Italy and Turkey meet at a moment of renewal, with Roberto Mancini beginning another cycle for the Azzurri and Vincenzo Montella seeking to carry Turkey beyond the difficult memories of their American World Cup campaign. For the former Sampdoria teammates, two Nations League meetings in quick succession will bring an emotional element, but neither coach can afford to treat them as occasions of sentiment.
The coach and the club
Montella admitted that Italy was the one opponent he would rather not have faced, particularly twice within a few days. Yet Turkey arrive with a clear target: finishing first or second in the group to reach the Nations League quarter-finals.
The Turkish coach has been in charge for three years, having initially taken over in an emergency situation when qualification for Euro 2024 was at risk. Turkey not only reached the tournament but won their qualifying group, then impressed on their way to the quarter-finals of the finals. They later returned to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, although the campaign in America brought less satisfying results.
Montella believes the federation’s decision to retain him reflected the broader picture rather than only that World Cup. “They assessed my whole spell, not simply the World Cup,” he said. “They did not judge me on two matches. They looked ahead.”
He accepted that dismissal would not have been an impossible outcome after Turkey’s early problems in America. Looking back, Montella said his side lacked decisiveness in front of goal and should have done enough to take at least a point from their opening two fixtures. He did not seek excuses, even if he felt fortune had not always been with them.
Turkey’s progress under him remains significant. They have lost only once at home in ten matches, with Spain the sole visiting side to win there, while they also ended a 70-year wait for a victory in Germany. Those results, Montella suggested with a smile, may explain why the federation chose continuity.
A new group in the Nations League
Both teams have changed considerably since their previous chapters. Montella noted that Italy’s transition goes beyond the appointment of Mancini, while Turkey have also introduced a sizeable group of young players over time. In a short four-match schedule, he warned, there is little room for a mistake.
That pressure is also part of the attraction for Turkey, who are entering Nations League A for the first time. Montella sees his squad as the group’s fourth-ranked side and regards the campaign as an opportunity to earn its place among Europe’s established powers.
“We are the newly promoted team,” he said. “We will have to make our own way.”
Turkey must begin without Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz, while Mert Muldur will also be unavailable at the start. Montella called it an important examination for those stepping into the side, particularly in a group where every game carries weight.
He expects the contests with Italy to be finely balanced. “At least, I hope they will be,” he said.
Italy’s weight and Mancini’s task
Montella sees a more complicated psychological backdrop around Italy after the national side’s failure to reach three successive World Cups. He described that sequence as hard to comprehend, while acknowledging that the Azzurri have also suffered from misfortune in decisive matches.
In his view, the burden of must-win fixtures can become damaging: players arrive with too much anxiety and too much desire to force the result. But he has also sensed fresh enthusiasm around the Italian camp, encouraged by a coach he believes understands how to work with young footballers and is willing to introduce them early.
The relationship between Montella and Mancini is founded on their shared Sampdoria past. They are not regular companions, he said, but there is mutual esteem, respect and affection.
“I believe in him,” Montella said of Mancini. “He has the experience and the knowledge to take Italy back upwards. He is the right person.”
When asked about Italy’s outstanding player, Montella placed Gianluigi Donnarumma at the forefront. “Scoring against Gigio is a real problem,” he said.
Yildiz, France and Turkey’s longer horizon
Even in Yildiz’s absence, Montella spoke warmly of the Juventus forward’s potential. He rejected the need to confine the youngster to the traditional number 10 role, arguing that a player can develop from a wide starting position and move inside.
Montella recalled how Alessandro Del Piero was once endlessly compared with Roberto Baggio at the beginning of his own career. In Yildiz, he sees both talent and the scope to become one of the world’s leading players.
The Nations League group also includes Belgium and France, teams with their own need to respond after disappointment. Montella does not place France among the principal failures, however, given that their semi-final defeat came against Spain. He described the French player pool as unmatched outside Spain and perhaps Portugal, while noting the renewed excitement created by Zidane’s presence.
“It will not be easy even for them,” Montella said.
His own attachment to Turkey now extends beyond the national team. Having spent five years in the country between Adana and the national job, he feels at home there. He sees a young nation investing heavily in sport and planning over the long term, with clubs pursuing not only established names such as Dusan Vlahovic but younger players too.
Montella also welcomed the arrival of Vincenzo Italiano at Besiktas, describing his fellow Italian coach as an excellent figure with whom he speaks often.
Italy and Turkey are expected to co-host Euro 2032, a distant date but one that gives the relationship between the countries another future point on the calendar. Montella would not rule out remaining in Turkey for a long time, saying he feels respected and valued there. For now, though, the immediate chapter is written in Nations League A, with Italy twice across the opposite touchline.
