Coach Defies Critics
Turkey Coach Montella Will Not Resign After World Cup Elimination, Urges Fan Support
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Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella says he will not quit, even after his team became one of the earliest eliminations at the 2026 World Cup. Turkey lost both of its opening matches — 2-0 to Australia and 1-0 to Paraguay — without scoring a single goal, ending any hope of advancing from Group D, according to AP News.
Speaking at a press conference in Inglewood, California, Montella pushed back hard against critics. "Will I resign? The answer is no," he said. He also scolded fans who heckled the team at their Los Angeles hotel, saying, "I have seen personal attacks that I cannot accept, because this is something you are doing against your own son."
Turkey Exits Without a Goal After 62 Shots
Turkey's elimination is as painful statistically as it is emotionally. Across two matches, the team fired 62 total shots but scored zero goals. Only 13 of those attempts — fewer than 21% — reached the goalkeeper, according to Yahoo Sports. Data models put Turkey's expected goals at 3.6, meaning they should have scored nearly four times by pure probability.
Turkey had not appeared at a World Cup in 24 years, making this a highly anticipated return. The team came in as a popular "dark horse" after a strong run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Instead, Turkish media outlet Fanatik described the exit as "shameful," and commentator Candas Tolga Isik said Turkey could go down as the "worst side of the tournament" given the talent on the roster, AP News reported.
Montella Shields Young Stars from Fan Backlash
Montella's fiercest words were reserved for the treatment of his players. A group of fans heckled the squad — and Montella himself — outside their Los Angeles hotel, with one shouting "Montella go home!" Montella said his press conference defense was aimed at stopping what he called "social media lynchings" of young players, according to AP News.
Star midfielder Arda Güler, 21 years old and playing for Real Madrid, captured the team's mood after the Paraguay loss. "We tried very hard but it didn't work," Güler said. "Everybody's sad, everybody's crying." Defender Mert Müldür was photographed in tears after the defeat. Montella framed the attacks on these players as an act against Turkey's own future, messenger-inquirer.com reported.
Turkish Football Federation Backs Montella, Eyes 2028
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is standing firmly behind its coach. President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu issued a statement of full support, saying, "We will stand by both the coach of this team and the players. This is not a club — you can't just send 15 players away and bring in 15 new ones here," according to AP News.
The TFF says it is deliberately breaking what it calls a cycle of short-termism in Turkish football. Federation officials have already pivoted their public messaging toward Euro 2028, insisting this young generation will lead the country back to glory. Montella called the team's statistical dominance without results a once-in-50-years anomaly, though critics say possession without goals is simply a coaching failure.
Final Group Game Against USA Looms as Last Stand
Turkey faces the United States at SoFi Stadium on June 25 in a match that means nothing for the standings. The Americans have already won Group D. For Turkey, Montella framed the game as a chance to finish with pride. "I believe my players will embrace this chance for a positive finish," he said, according to KTVB.
Analysts say a third scoreless game would make Montella's position nearly impossible to defend, even with the TFF's backing. Turkey averaged 78% possession in stretches across their two losses but relied on low-quality long-range shots rather than penetrating the box. The USA match offers one last chance to prove the numbers — and the coach — still have something to offer.
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