Türkiye vs Italy: Two Opening Defeats Leave No Room for Another Slip

The second round of Nations League Group A1 brings an unusual meeting of two sides that normally expect to compete near the top of European football, yet both arrive in Bursa without a point. Türkiye lost 1-0 to France in their opening match, while Italy were beaten 2-0 at home by Belgium. The result leaves both teams level on zero points behind Belgium and France, meaning the immediate importance of this encounter is obvious without needing to look further into the schedule. Türkiye also face the added complication of having Uğurcan Çakır sent off against France, while Italy enter the match after a defeat in which they struggled during the first half before improving after the interval. The match is being played at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, with another Türkiye-Italy meeting already scheduled for Bologna on October 5.

Türkiye’s preparation has been shaped by significant absences rather than a lack of attacking options. Vincenzo Montella confirmed that captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kenan Yıldız and Mert Müldür are unavailable because of injuries, while Orkun Kökçü has a minor injury and is attempting to recover in time. The absence of Çalhanoğlu removes one of Türkiye’s most important midfield organisers and set-piece specialists, while Yıldız’s absence changes the options around Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Barış Alper Yılmaz. Türkiye still showed against France that they can create technically gifted attacking combinations, with Güler operating behind the front line and Ferdi Kadıoğlu providing width. Italy’s situation is also affected by injuries: Bryan Cristante was ruled out before the camp began, Federico Dimarco failed to recover from his club problem and left the squad, while Nicolò Zaniolo was subsequently assessed as unavailable for the upcoming matches.

Italy’s tactical problem is particularly interesting because Roberto Mancini has already started reshaping the squad, bringing in a number of younger or less-established internationals while retaining major figures such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella. The 2-0 defeat against Belgium exposed problems during the first half, although Italy improved after the break and created a stronger spell before Belgium struck again. Mancini has also chosen to manage his squad carefully during this demanding sequence of four Nations League fixtures: ten players remained at Coverciano rather than travelling to Bursa, including Barella, Diego Coppola, Gianluca Mancini and Samuele Ricci. This does not represent injury exclusion; the FIGC explicitly described it as a separate training programme designed to reduce the physical demands of travelling before the next fixtures. That distinction matters when assessing the available personnel for Türkiye.

The pre-match coverage has consequently focused on reaction, squad management and identity rather than simply the historical rivalry. Turkish coach Montella has acknowledged the importance of the missing players while insisting that the selected squad contains enough quality to compete. Italian coverage has also concentrated on the pressure surrounding a new phase under Mancini after the opening defeat, with former Türkiye coach Fatih Terim discussing Italy’s need to rediscover a clear identity while recognising the potential within the squad. For Türkiye, the home setting provides an opportunity to respond after a narrow defeat to France, but they must do so without several established names and with the uncertainty surrounding Kökçü’s fitness. Italy, meanwhile, need to produce a more complete performance than the one seen against Belgium. The official starting XIs had not yet been released at the time of this article, so no predicted lineup is presented as confirmed team news.

❗ Medical Update: Confirmed Absences

The following table includes only injury-related absences confirmed by the respective football associations or national-team staff. No unsupported injury claims have been added.

🟣 Official Squad Picture & Key Personnel

The official starting elevens were not yet published at the time of preparation. The tables therefore identify confirmed squad personnel and key figures rather than inventing a starting XI. UEFA’s official match page states that squad lists are updated on the morning of each match.

📰 What the Pre-Match Coverage Is Saying

• Both teams need points: Türkiye lost 1-0 to France and Italy lost 2-0 to Belgium, leaving both sides on zero points after Matchday 1.
• Türkiye have major absences: Montella confirmed that Çalhanoğlu, Yıldız and Müldür are unavailable, while Kökçü is carrying a minor injury.
• Italy are also managing injuries: Cristante, Dimarco and Zaniolo have all been ruled unavailable during the current international window.
• Squad rotation is part of Italy’s plan: Ten players remained at Coverciano rather than travelling to Bursa, specifically as part of the federation’s workload-management plan.
• The historical record favours Italy: UEFA records Türkiye with no wins in the previous 16 meetings against Italy, alongside five draws and 11 defeats.
• Another meeting follows quickly: Italy will host Türkiye in Bologna on October 5, only seven days after this Bursa fixture.

Türkiye vs Italy — Match Facts

• Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 — League A, Group 1
• Date: 28 September 2026
• Venue: Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matlı Stadyumu, Bursa
• Kick-off: 20:45 CET
• Türkiye’s previous result: Türkiye 0-1 France
• Italy’s previous result: Italy 0-2 Belgium
• Group position: Türkiye 0 points, Italy 0 points
• Next meeting: Italy vs Türkiye, 5 October 2026
• Official starting XIs: Not yet released at the time of publication