Turkey coach Montella shows humour at World Cup press conference ahead of Paraguay match

Italian coach Vincenzo Montella of Turkey demonstrated good humour during a press conference on his birthday, June 18th, despite initial tensions following Turkey's opening World Cup defeat to Australia. When a Paraguayan journalist asked about individual player marking tactics against midfielder Almirón, Montella jokingly responded, "Was it your coach who told you to ask that?" — drawing laughter from the assembled media.

Montella provided substantive analysis of the upcoming match against Paraguay, noting that South American teams are characterised by physicality, personality, and strong character. He explained his preference to focus on preparing his own team rather than discussing specific tactical details at that moment. The coach also reflected on celebrating his birthday while managing at major tournaments, noting this was his second birthday spent with the national team during a major competition after turning 50 during Euro 2024, when Turkey's opening victory became his best birthday gift.

On a more serious note, Montella expressed disappointment with what he characterised as "chaos" created by critics following the Australia loss. He defended his squad's achievements over the past three years, including reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, and stated the team deserved more respect. Montella also remarked that he felt more Turkish than some of those creating "agitation," and suggested his team received more appreciation abroad than domestically. Despite the criticism, he emphasised that Turkey had prepared to face Paraguay with a clear mindset and would continue focusing on their performance.