Montella Continues to Achieve Firsts
The Turkish National Football Team achieved its first away victory in history against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League B Group match, winning 4-2 under the management of Italian coach Vincenzo Montella. Before last night’s match, the crescent-star team had recorded 6 losses and only 1 draw in 7 matches in Iceland. They ended this poor record with the match under Montella’s leadership. Previously, Turkey had conceded 16 goals and only scored 3 in 7 matches at this venue; however, they scored 4 goals in this match, surpassing the total goals scored in the previous 7 matches.
Firsts with Montella
Since Vincenzo Montella took charge, the national team has achieved many other firsts. The crescent-star team finished as the leader in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group, securing a spot in Germany. This is the first time Turkey has qualified for a major tournament by finishing as the leader in the qualifying group. Montella, the first foreign coach to take the national team to a major tournament, also led the team to the quarter-finals.
While participating in the European Championship, the national team defeated Croatia 1-0 away for the first time in history during the group stage. The national team also managed to defeat Germany 3-2 in a friendly match, marking their first away victory against Germany in 72 years.
The crescent-star team reached the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024, achieving 3 victories for the first time in the tournament’s history. Under Montella, Turkey won 3 of the 5 matches played, suffering 1 loss. Previously, the national team had secured only 1 victory in the Euro 2000 quarter-finals and 2 victories in Euro 2008. In Euro 2008, the team defeated Switzerland and the Czech Republic and advanced to the semi-finals after winning against Croatia in penalties. In the semi-finals, they lost to Germany.
The crescent-star team achieved its first victory against Latvia in 2023. Previously, they had drawn all 3 matches played in Turkey against this opponent. In the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, they broke the draw streak by winning 4-0 in the match played in Konya.
Half of the Goals from Kerem
Half of the 8 goals scored by the Turkish National Team in 4 matches of the UEFA Nations League B came from Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who continues his career at the Portuguese club Benfica. Kerem scored all 4 of his goals against Iceland, netting 3 goals in the match played in Izmir and scoring the closing goal in the away match.
Following Kerem, the second-highest scorer in the national team is İrfan Can Kahveci, who scored 2 goals. İrfan found the net in matches against Montenegro and Iceland. The other two goals came from Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The 8 goals scored by the team in Euro 2024 came from 7 different players.
Before Euro 2024, the national team scored 11 goals in 8 matches under Montella’s management, with 9 of these goals scored by different players.
Turkey Entered the Last 2 Matches at the Top of the Group
After 4 matches, the Turkish National Team continued to sit in the leader’s seat in Group 4 of the UEFA Nations League B. With 3 victories and 1 draw in 4 matches, Turkey secured the first place with 10 points. In the group, Wales is in second place with 8 points, Iceland is third with 4 points, and Montenegro, yet to score any points, sits at the bottom.
The national team, under Montella’s management, remains unbeaten and will host Wales in Kayseri and face Montenegro away in their last 2 matches of the group.
