Turkey serves as reminder to USMNT how World Cup could have gone very wrong

INGLEWOOD, Calif.— To witness Vincenzo Montella speak Wednesday was to get a reminder of how easily it can all go wrong at a World Cup.Montella, the Italian appointed to lead the Turkish national team in 2023, has by any measure been a historically successful coach in his current post.

He took Turkey to the 2024 European Championship and won its first knockout game since 2008.He guided it to promotion into League A of the UEFA Nations League, and most importantly, through World Cup qualifying, a first for the country since 2002.Turkey’s roster at this World Cup is its most talented in years.

Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız are 21-year-old stars.Hakan Çalhanoglu, their captain, is still in his prime and one of Europe’s better midfielders.

Ferdi Kadıoglu has found success in the English Premier League.Upon getting through UEFA’s qualifying playoff, Turkey looked at a group without any powerhouses and thought it could win it.

At minimum, it couldn’t fathom failing to qualify entirely for the knockouts.Sound familiar?The U.S.national team has handled all the pressure so easily you can almost forget what’s pressing down on their shoulders.

Turkey, which had all the same potential coming into this World Cup, which played the same two defensive teams it should have picked apart, wilted under it.The Americans had 69,000 people singing John Denver and Bon Jovi last weekend.The Turks had fans showing up at their hotel to scream at them.The result was a game Thursday that, three weeks ago, looked like a potential group decider, turning into a glorified exhibition.Montella, sitting at the dais Wednesday, was asked whether he would resign.

This came after an extraordinary opening statement in which he begged for the discourse amongst the Turkish fans and media to be more respectful and listed a series of stats — shots taken, actions near the opposing penalty area, entries into the opposing half and attacking area and penalty area, progressive open playing pa...