Turkish national team head coach Vincenzo Montella shared his thoughts on Turkey’s performance at Euro 2024 and his future plans for the team in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Despite the disappointment of being eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands, Montella expressed pride in his team’s achievements.
“There’s a lot of bitterness, I won’t deny it, but it quickly gave way to personal and group satisfaction for having played a great European Championship,” Montella said. He highlighted the team’s excellent play and some extraordinary statistics, but more importantly, how they rekindled the passion of Turkish fans with their clean and proactive football.
Looking ahead, Montella revealed Turkey’s long-term project, focusing on a talented group of players born in 2005. “At the 2026 World Cup, many of these players will be between 21 and 26 years old. In the 2032 Euros, hosted by Italy and Turkey, many will be between 27 and 30 years old,” he explained. Montella emphasized the need to nurture these talents without burdening them with too much responsibility.
Interestingly, Montella also commented on Italy’s disappointing performance at Euro 2024. “Honestly, I can’t explain it,” he said. “Spalletti was, for me, the best coach at the Euros: prepared, attentive, meticulous, experienced. He seemed to have restored enthusiasm, play, and identity. I’m very sorry for Italy.”
