Turkey lose Nations League opener 1-0 to France in Kocaeli
Montella praises team effort but rues small error that gifted Mbappé the winner on a poor pitch.
KEY POINTS
- Turkey lost 1-0 to France in Nations League Group 1 opener at Kocaeli Stadium
- Mbappé scored in the 54th minute from Turkey's only clear error
- Montella praised team's effort and organisation but criticised pitch quality
- İsmail Yüksek and Salih Özcan impressed in midfield without Çalhanoğlu
- Focus shifts to rapid recovery before next match
Turkey opened their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to France at Kocaeli Stadium on 25 September. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in the 54th minute after a defensive lapse.
Coach Vincenzo Montella said his side delivered a courageous, organised performance and deserved more, but a single mistake proved decisive against opponents who were physically and mentally superior across the pitch.
“Unfortunately a goal was born from a small mistake.”
Montella criticised the playing surface, stating the pitch did not help his team, while also noting that a three-man attack requires closer support which France's pressure made difficult.
The Italian thanked the Kocaeli crowd for their backing and praised İsmail Yüksek and Salih Özcan for their displays in the absence of the injured Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
Montella added that his priority now is to recover the players quickly for the next fixture in the coming days.
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