Türkiye’s first match in the UEFA Uluslar A Ligi brings a proper test, and the message from Montella is clear: Bizim Çocuklar must play with courage. In Kocaeli, against Fransa, this is not just an opening fixture in 1. Grup. It is a chance to set the tone in a competition Türkiye are entering for the first time.
The stakes are straightforward. Three points are on offer, and the early rhythm of the group can matter as much as the performance itself. Türkiye have reason to believe Kocaeli can be a positive setting too, with the city already associated with two wins from two previous matches. That is the kind of detail that can shape expectation before the first whistle.
Montella wants courage to define the night
Montella has said, “Cesaretimizi sahaya yansıtacağız,” and that feels like the right framework for a match of this size. Against a team like Fransa, bravery is not about rushing forward blindly. It is about keeping structure, showing personality in possession, and not retreating into the kind of caution that can hand control to a stronger opponent.
Türkiye know the quality Fransa bring, but they also know this is not an unfamiliar rivalry. This will be the 7. kez the two sides have met, and the recent record offers encouragement. Türkiye beat Fransa 2-0 in Konya on 8 Haziran 2019 in EURO 2020 Elemeleri, before drawing 1-1 in Paris on 14 Ekim 2019. Those results are a reminder that this is not a tie Türkiye have to approach with fear.
Kocaeli has already been a happy hunting ground
The setting matters. Türkiye have already won twice in Kocaeli, including a 1-0 victory over Şili at İsmetpaşa Stadı on 20 Ağustos 2008. That history will not decide the game, but it does add to the sense that the city can be a supportive stage for another major occasion.
There is also a fresh layer of confidence from recent form. Türkiye arrive after beating Gürcistan 4-1 in 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri on 14 Ekim 2025. That result will not count for anything here, but it does show a side capable of producing a convincing night when the balance is right.
France arrive with one notable absence
Fransa’s build-up has been complicated by the absence of Konate, who has been ruled out through injury. In a match where details can decide the outcome, any missing piece matters, particularly when facing an opponent eager to make a statement in a new competition.
Even so, Türkiye will know the challenge remains significant. A first campaign in UEFA Uluslar A Ligi is about more than simply belonging at this level. It is about proving the group can compete with patience, discipline and enough quality in key moments.
So the task is simple to describe, even if it is not simple to complete. Türkiye must carry Montella’s message onto the pitch, protect the good habits they have shown in Kocaeli before, and turn an opening-night occasion into a result that gives their 1. Grup campaign real momentum.
