Turkish National Team names four uncapped players for Nations League squad
Head coach Vincenzo Montella has called up İlhan Fakılı, Bartuğ Elmaz, Adil Demirbağ and Melih Kabasakal for the first time in a 29-man squad for matches against France, Italy and Belgium.
Turkish National Team head coach Vincenzo Montella has announced his 29-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League A fixtures against France, Italy (two matches) and Belgium, with the list released through the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). The most striking aspect of the announcement was that four players received their first-ever call-ups to the national side. İlhan Fakılı, Bartuğ Elmaz, Adil Demirbağ and Melih Kabasakal stood out as the surprise inclusions in Montella's selection.
Twenty-year-old İlhan Fakılı, who joined Beşiktaş during the summer transfer window, has impressed with his performances, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists in 12 appearances for the black-and-whites. Twenty-three-year-old Bartuğ Elmaz, who has been given regular playing time this season under coach İsmail Kartal, has featured in 5 matches without yet registering a goal or assist. Despite this, the young player managed to catch Montella's attention.
Twenty-eight-year-old centre-back Adil Demirbağ, who has played for Konyaspor since 2020, played the full 90 minutes in all 5 league matches this season, and his consistent performances earned him his first national team call-up. Although the experienced defender has yet to register a goal or assist, his regular playing time appears to have influenced Montella's decision. Thirty-year-old defensive midfielder Melih Kabasakal, whom Trabzonspor signed from Gaziantep FK at the start of the season, also received his first call-up to the senior national team after featuring in 6 matches.
According to the TFF statement, the called-up players will gather at the Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facility in Riva from 12:00 on Monday, September 21. The national team will hold its first training session the same day at 18:00, with the first 15 minutes open to media coverage. Montella's selections are being interpreted as a reflection of his strategy to blend experienced players with promising young talent.
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