Türkiye have sacked head coach Vincenzo Montella after a disastrous start to their UEFA Nations League campaign, with four defeats leaving the national side bottom of their group without a point.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced the decision on Friday, 9 October, following a board meeting. Its statement said, translated from Turkish: “It has been decided not to continue with our national team head coach, Mr Vincenzo Montella.” The federation gave no explicit reason in its announcement and did not name a successor.
Montella, 52, had been in charge since September 2023, taking Türkiye to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and back to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. However, a group-stage exit at this summer’s tournament was followed by four straight Nations League defeats — their first such losing run in competitive matches for 38 years, according to Anadolu Agency.
The extended September–October international break produced contrasting fortunes for the six teams featured in T-VINE’s preview, with England finding their scoring touch and Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan ending the window top of their groups.
Türkiye
Türkiye’s return to League A proved bruising. A 1–0 home defeat to France was followed by a 4–1 loss to Italy in Bursa, a 3–0 defeat in Belgium and another setback against Italy, this time 3–1 away in Bologna on Monday, 5 October. Across the four games, Türkiye scored just twice and conceded 11.
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s third in Liège, underlining the gulf Türkiye must close at this level. They sit fourth in Group A1 on zero points, behind France on 10, Italy on seven and Belgium on six.
Türkiye’s remaining games are at home to Belgium on 12 November and away to France on 15 November.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan enjoyed an unbeaten window, beginning with a 1–0 friendly win over Tajikistan before drawing 1–1 away to Lithuania and 0–0 at home to Liechtenstein in the Nations League.
The breakthrough came in their final match, when Abdulla Khaybullayev’s 25th-minute goal secured a 1–0 home win over Lithuania.
That victory took Aykhan Abbasov’s side to the top of Group D2 with five points from three matches, ahead of Lithuania on four and Liechtenstein on one. Azerbaijan have just one group fixture left, away to Liechtenstein on 13 November, although both their rivals still have two matches to play.
England
England recovered emphatically from a 3–2 opening defeat to Spain at Wembley, where Harry Kane missed a penalty after his side had led 2–1. Thomas Tuchel’s team then beat Czechia 2–0 in Prague, overwhelmed Croatia 7–0 away and finished with a 3–0 home victory over Czechia.
The Croatia result was England’s biggest Nations League win and the heaviest defeat in Croatia’s history, with Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice apiece.
Kane marked his record-equalling 125th England appearance against Czechia with another double, drawing level with Peter Shilton’s England appearance record and taking his international goal tally to 91.
England are second in Group A3 on nine points, three behind Spain and six ahead of Croatia, with Czechia still pointless. Three successive wins and clean sheets have put them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.
Scotland
Scotland’s first international window under Sébastien Pocognoli brought one win, one draw and two defeats. After a 0–0 draw in Slovenia and a 3–0 home loss to Switzerland, they won 2–0 in North Macedonia through Kieron Bowie’s first international goal and a John McGinn penalty.
Andy Robertson celebrated his 100th cap, although Scott McKenna’s late red card meant Scotland finished with ten men; an earlier Scottish penalty award had also been overturned following a VAR review.
The optimism faded at Hampden against Slovenia. Ryan Christie put Scotland ahead, but second-half goals from Aljoša Matko and Danijel Šturm turned the match into a 2–1 defeat.
Scotland are third in Group B1 with four points, three behind Slovenia and eight adrift of Switzerland, while North Macedonia have none. Their remaining matches are at home to North Macedonia and away to Switzerland in November.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland produced one of the strongest campaigns of the six teams, collecting two wins and two draws without conceding a goal.
Shea Charles’s 99th-minute volley sealed a dramatic 1–0 win in Georgia, where goalkeeper Pierce Charles also saved Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s penalty. A 0–0 home draw with Hungary was followed by an outstanding 3–0 win over Ukraine in Slovakia, with Ciaron Brown scoring twice and Isaac Price adding the other.
There was frustration in the final 0–0 draw with Georgia at Windsor Park, as Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Price’s late penalty after a VAR review had awarded the spot-kick. Nevertheless, Michael O’Neill’s side lead Group B2 with eight points, one ahead of Hungary, with Ukraine on four and Georgia on two.
Four clean sheets leave Northern Ireland well placed before November’s home match against Ukraine and trip to Hungary.
Wales
Wales found life in League A difficult, losing 1–0 in Portugal and 2–0 in Denmark before a spirited 2–1 home victory over Norway. Dan James equalised before Neco Williams struck the winning free-kick, after Norway’s Torbjørn Heggem was sent off early in the second half. It was Wales’ first victory at League A level.
They could not build on that result against Denmark in Cardiff, where Danny Ward lost possession and then brought down Gustav Isaksen. Rasmus Højlund converted the resulting penalty to secure a 1–0 Danish win.
Craig Bellamy’s team are third in Group A4 on three points, ahead of Norway on their head-to-head result, with Denmark on six and Portugal on 12. Wales finish away to Norway and at home to Portugal in November.
Internationals results for 23 September- 06 October 2026
All matches are UEFA Nations League games unless stated otherwise.
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Azerbaijan 1–0 Tajikistan (international friendly)
Thursday 24 September 2026
Portugal 1–0 Wales (Group A4)
Friday 25 September 2026
Georgia 0–1 Northern Ireland (Group B2)
Türkiye 0–1 France (Group A1)
Saturday 26 September 2026
Slovenia 0–0 Scotland (Group B1)
England 2–3 Spain (Group A3)
Sunday 27 September 2026
Lithuania 1–1 Azerbaijan (Group D2)
Denmark 2–0 Wales (Group A4)
Monday 28 September 2026
Northern Ireland 0–0 Hungary (Group B2)
Türkiye 1–4 Italy (Group A1)
Tuesday 29 September 2026
Scotland 0–3 Switzerland (Group B1)
Czechia 0–2 England (Group A3)
Thursday 1 October 2026
Azerbaijan 0–0 Liechtenstein (Group D2)
Wales 2–1 Norway (Group A4)
Friday 2 October 2026
Belgium 3–0 Türkiye (Group A1)
Ukraine 0–3 Northern Ireland (Group B2)
Saturday 3 October 2026
Croatia 0–7 England (Group A3)
North Macedonia 0–2 Scotland (Group B1)
Sunday 4 October 2026
Azerbaijan 1–0 Lithuania (Group D2)
Wales 0–1 Denmark (Group A4)
Monday 5 October 2026
Italy 3–1 Türkiye (Group A1)
Northern Ireland 0–0 Georgia (Group B2)
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Scotland 1–2 Slovenia (Group B1)
England 3–0 Czechia (Group A3)
