Italy seek closing win in Bologna as Turkey coach fights for job
A week that began with calls for relegation could end with Italy chasing second place in their Nations League group. After the 4-1 win in Bursa and a 1-1 draw in France, Roberto Mancini's side host Turkey at Bologna's Stadio Dall'Ara knowing that three points Monday evening would keep them in contention before November's fixtures against Belgium and France.
The turnaround has been stark. An opening defeat to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico had left supporters on social media talking about a "Serie B" future. Now, with four points from two away matches, Italy approach the return fixture against Vincenzo Montella's Turkey with renewed confidence.
Kickoff is at 20:45.
Mancini warns against complacency
The Italy head coach struck a cautious tone in his pre-match comments, recorded by ANSA. The 4-1 scoreline in Bursa should not fool anyone, he said.
"The error would be thinking that the game against Turkey is a simple game," Mancini said. "Thinking this would be a serious error: we must approach the match well."
He said he had not changed his opinion of Turkey despite their poor run. "I believe the team is very strong, that they have great players, and that they were very unfortunate at the World Cup."
Mancini confirmed that Moise Kean will leave the training camp after failing to recover from an injury problem. The coach said he would make more changes than usual for this match, given that players have had only two days to recover from the France game.
On the team spirit restored since the Belgium loss, Mancini said: "Positive results give you awareness of what you can do. I think the first match was full of pressure, it was the first after the summer, and the first half was difficult, but already in the second half we had improved a lot."
Nicolò Barella, who remained at the Coverciano training centre during the Turkey trip, echoed his coach's emphasis on the collective. "Competitiveness keeps me alive," Barella said, according to ANSA. "For the national team I am available to play 10, 20, 30 minutes, even one minute — the most important thing is the group."
Montella under severe pressure
For Turkey's Vincenzo Montella, the match has become a test of survival. Three straight defeats in Nations League Group 1 — to France, Italy and Belgium — have left Turkey bottom with zero points and a 1-8 goal difference. Turkish media and fans are openly calling for his resignation.
One Turkish media comment quoted by ANSA said: "After the World Cup fiasco, a coach who starts the Nations League with zero wins over three matches would not remain in his post anywhere else in the world, except with us."
Montella, who earns approximately €2 million per year, guided Turkey to their first World Cup qualification in 24 years. But group-stage elimination in the United States and a poor Nations League start have turned opinion against the former Italy striker.
"Nobody is to blame," Montella said in his defence. "I also fight with all my heart on the field. Our team is united but we have deficiencies that are very evident."
Turkey's task is made harder by absences to key players. Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kenan Yildiz and Orkun Kökçü are injured, while Arda Güler and Barış Yılmaz are suspended.
Dall'Ara prepares for near sell-out
The stadium in Bologna is close to capacity for the match, with 27,000 tickets sold out of a 31,000 capacity. Spectators will notice a new synthetic blue surface around the pitch, installed to cover the athletics track and improve the visual quality of the broadcast.
Bologna's Nicolò Cambiaghi, who missed the France match through fatigue, may feature. Also returning to the stadium where he helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League in 2023-24 is Riccardo Calafiori, now at Arsenal.
Giacomo Raspadori will not play after leaving the training camp with a thigh injury sustained in Turkey.
FIGC launches social sustainability measures
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is using the match to promote its "Social and Environmental Sustainability Match Format," introduced in 2024.
Three initiatives are in place:
• Audiodescrizione for blind and visually impaired fans: An audio description service available via the "Connect Me Too" app, allowing supporters to follow the match from the stadium or remotely. The service is run in collaboration with the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti.
• A Quiet Room for athletes from the FIGC's Paralympic Football Division, particularly those from Edu in Formazione-Bologna Senza Barriere.
• Food recovery: Surplus food from hospitality areas will be collected and distributed to people in need, in partnership with Arca della Misericordia.
The broader aim is to make attending matches more accessible for people with cognitive, psychological and sensory disabilities.
