The Turkish national team, sitting atop Group 4 of UEFA Nations League B with 4 points, is set to face Montenegro in their third match of the group. The Ay-Yıldızlılar aim to send their opponent home empty-handed with the support of their fans at Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadium. Vukan Savicevic, a 30-year-old Montenegrin midfielder from Vojvodina, who previously played for Samsunspor and Giresunspor, provided exclusive insights to Spor Arena before the match. The experienced player highlighted the dangerous aspects of his team, having previously played in 20 matches.
After drawing 0-0 against Wales away and beating Iceland 3-1 at home, the Turkish national team is focused on winning against Montenegro, which has yet to earn any points but has shown resilience until the last moment. The Ay-Yıldızlılar do not want to leave room for surprises against an opponent that is still seeking its first points. Vukan Savicevic, a star who played for Samsunspor and Giresunspor from 2020 to 2024, shared important observations regarding the team in a favorable position.
Comments from Montenegrin Player Vukan Savicevic Before the Match:
“It was especially disappointing that we couldn’t turn the game against Wales.”
Although Montenegro has shown a fighting spirit, they have struggled to make a good start in the UEFA Nations League, sitting at the bottom of the group with 0 points. Evaluating his team’s performance during this period, Vukan Savicevic stated, “Montenegro has had a bad start to the season in terms of the UEFA Nations League. We played two matches and lost both. We couldn’t adapt well to our first match against Iceland and didn’t prepare well for it. Additionally, the weather conditions were very tough. As for the second match against Wales, we had a very poor start in the first 5 minutes and conceded two goals. After that, we couldn’t manage to come back, but we played excellent football in that match. The boys really did their jobs. It was particularly sad that we couldn’t turn around the match against Wales.”
“I’m sure Robert Prosinecki knows the mentality of the Turks.”
In February, Montenegro appointed the legendary Robert Prosinecki as their coach, and under his management, the team has played a total of 6 matches, including 4 friendlies and 2 official games, winning 2 of them. Discussing the impact of Coach Robert Prosinecki on the team, Savicevic said, “Coach Robert Prosinecki is a very good and experienced coach. He is a big figure in the Balkans. He won the Champions League with Red Star during his playing career, so he has the mentality and character of a winner. He generally likes to play football with quality, making ground passes, running into open spaces, and shooting from every position. I’m sure Prosinecki knows the mentality of the Turks. He also knows many players on your team. He has friends who will tell him about the weaknesses of your team in Turkey. Therefore, I think this situation will be advantageous for our national team.”
“Stevan Jovetić, one of our best players, will be effective in this match.”
Due to injuries, including that of Stefan Savić, who plays for Trabzonspor, Montenegro has faced several issues during the preparation for the match. Evaluating Montenegro’s squad, the 30-year-old midfielder said, “We may not be a big country, but we still have a strong character, a winning spirit, and a good team. I am confident that with Robert Prosinecki, we will achieve good results not only against Turkey but also against other teams. The team is currently ready and will be even more ready. I believe that Stevan Jovetić, one of our best players, will be effective in this match.”
“I KNOW THE CHARACTER OF TURKISH FANS: IT WILL BE A CRAZY ATMOSPHERE!”
Vukan Savicevic, a Montenegrin star who played a total of 90 matches for Samsunspor and Giresunspor, has closely experienced the atmosphere of fans and stadiums in Turkey. Commenting on the atmosphere for the match at Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadium, he stated, “I played football in the city of Samsun for 2 years, and I love this city very much. I have many friends there and also in my other team, Giresun. I can never forget them, and they will always live in my heart. Therefore, I know the character of Turkish fans and how much they love football very well. There will be a crazy atmosphere at the match, but I hope we can somehow shield ourselves against this atmosphere and focus on our coach’s tactical ideas.”
“MONTELLA HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON TURKEY’S SUCCESSES”
The Turkish national team finished the previous summer with a quarter-final victory in EURO 2024 and currently leads the UEFA Nations League with 4 points from 2 matches. Under the management of Vincenzo Montella, the Ay-Yıldızlılar aim for trophies in Europe, displaying consistent performance throughout this period. Discussing the recent performance of the team, Savicevic said, “Coach Vincenzo Montella is an excellent coach. He stayed in Turkey for many years and coached Adana Demirspor. Now, he has achieved incredible success with the Turkish National Team. I am sure that Montella has had a huge impact on Turkey’s successes. Thanks to him, Turkey competed in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. In football, I believe that 80% of the team is the coach. If the coach is good and dedicated to the team, the team plays better.”
“PLAYING AGAINST TURKEY IN A GOOD ATMOSPHERE IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT”
The Ay-Yıldızlılar boast a generation featuring notable players like Arda Guler, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Akturkoglu, Orkun Kokcu, and Hakan Calhanoğlu, who have all made significant contributions with their performances. Sharing his thoughts on the national team’s roster, Savicevic remarked, “The Turkish National Team is very strong as a team. Of course, they have strong individual players, but I cannot differentiate among them. If Turkey can concentrate and trust themselves in a good atmosphere, playing against them will always be difficult.”
“I HOPE FOR A POSITIVE RESULT FOR MONTENEGRO”
The Turkish national team has faced Montenegro 4 times before, securing 2 wins and 2 draws, consistently showcasing their class against the opponent. In preparation for this match, Savicevic said, “Of course, they are the favorites to win this match. Playing against a team like Turkey in an away match will be difficult. We are a small country, but as I mentioned earlier, we have a strong character. I hope for a positive result for Montenegro.”
