His greatest achievement so far is not just qualifying for the World Cup. He has brought the squad into a shape in which talents like Güler and Yıldız can develop their full potential without it damaging the team spirit. In close games, the team no longer gets too excited and can strike when it matters most. Montella hasn’t completely deprived the team of their previous tendency to openly exchange blows, but he has built them a safety net.
Türkiye at the World Cup: game system and tactics
Under Montella, Turkey usually plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation. This was already shown by the starting eleven against Romania with Çalhanoğlu and Yüksek in the center and Güler, Yıldız and Yılmaz behind striker Aktürkoğlu. However, this system shifts when in possession of the ball. The full-backs push up, Arda Güler positions himself in the right half-space, Yıldız looks for dribbles on the left wing. At times this creates a situation with five players in front of the ball.
Turkey wants the ball, but not just for circulation, not for tiki-taka. She wants to draw opponents out of the center with short combinations and then get into the penalty area via half spaces or the advancing full-back. Montella’s team also presses more actively than previous Turkish teams: not constantly, but with clear moments in which they immediately follow up after losing the ball.
The weak point remains the final consequence in the conclusion. The team lacks a reliable goalscorer on the level of previous Turkish attackers like Hakan Sükür. All the more crucial: standards, second balls and shots from the second row.
This is how Turkey has performed at previous World Cups
Turkey has appeared at the World Cup finals twice: in 1954 and 2002, when the team sensationally won the game for third place. The team’s performance in Japan and South Korea still shapes the Turks’ self-image today: quarter-final win against Senegal, semi-final against Brazil, then bronze after the 3-2 win against South Korea. In 2026, the team will not simply return in the eyes of the Turkish public; they should build on a great World Cup memory.
The long gap between 2002 and 2026 is also part of the story. Many observers in Turkey see the comeback in 2026 as a possible turning point for an entire generation of football fans. That alone makes the selection one of the more interesting teams at this World Cup, but also increases the pressure on players and those in charge.