Turkey’s national soccer team is preparing to break a 24-year absence from the World Cup when they take on Australia in Vancouver this Saturday, with coach Vincenzo Montella emphasizing the need for his squad to stay composed during this historic moment.
The Turkish team hasn’t competed in a World Cup since their third-place finish in the 2002 tournament. Speaking at a Friday press conference, Montella stressed the importance of not letting the magnitude of the occasion overwhelm his players.
“This is the day before something that we have been waiting for 24 years, we are very emotional and we trust we are going to do well,” he said.
“We know how many challenges there are in the World Cup, but we want to enjoy it and we want to be proud, and we want to make our nation proud of us.
“The first game is always the more important, even though it’s not the one that decides the final results because you can gain points in future games, but of course, I think of this game as a game that is going to be important and that is going to help in the future path of our team.”
The 51-year-old coach defended his current roster, emphasizing that the players competing in Group D alongside the United States and Paraguay shouldn’t bear responsibility for Turkey’s lengthy World Cup absence.
“I like telling my players that our success, it’s not their fault that Turkey was not at the World Cup for 24 years, but they can be proud that we can be here again after 24 years and now they need to be playing at their best, give the game their all and just avoid thinking about the other stuff,” he added.
Montella believes maintaining concentration during their opening group match will be crucial for establishing momentum throughout the tournament.
“There is so much enthusiasm and so much expectation that it (the game) is important for our players. I would like them to go out on the field and play with their own strengths with their own abilities – I don’t want them to be under the weight of the emotional part,” he said.
“I know that, when they play together but are feeling free and happy and without worrying too much, that’s when they give their best.”
