Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella insisted there will be “no excuses” if his team fails to shine in World Cup Group D, where it is a favorite over co-host the United States.After Montella’s side closed out its World Cup preparations with a 2-1 victory over Venezuela at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, Montella told reporters that adaptability will be one of the biggest factors facing teams this summer.“The World Cup is demanding for everyone,” he said. “The travel distances are long, and the weather conditions can vary significantly. Whoever adapts the quickest will have an advantage. There’s no point in making excuses. This is the national team, you have to deliver your best performance.”Turkey kicks off its campaign against Australia in Vancouver on June 14, a day after the U.S. takes on Paraguay in the first clash of the group. Perhaps the most mouthwatering match-up of Group D is when the USMNT and Turkey square off in Los Angeles in the third match for each team, on June 25.Before then, Montella has some injury situations to manage. Juventus star Kenan Yildiz and Brighton defender Ferdi Kadioglu were not available for selection against Venezuela and watched from the stands, while captain Hakan Calhanoglu and winger Kerem Akturkoglu continued their recoveries from injury and were limited to second-half substitute appearances.Even without several of their biggest names in the starting lineup, Turkey looked organized, composed, and dangerous throughout the match, reinforcing the growing belief that this may be the country’s most talented squad since its historic run to third place at the 2002 World Cup.Montella introduced both Calhanoglu and Akturkoglu after the hour mark, carefully managing their minutes as they are working their way back from injury. “Kerem was able to play a few more minutes than expected,” Montella said post-match. “Ferdi was actually fit enough to play as well, but I didn’t want to take any risks.“Hakan also managed a few extra minutes. Objectively speaking, it’s difficult for them to play a full 90 minutes right now, so we need to take it step by step.”Montella did not mention whether Yildiz, who is recovering from a mild calf strain, would suit up for Turkey’s first game against Australia. Post-match, both Yildiz and Kadioglu trained on the ground for about 35 minutes.Real Madrid’s Arda Guler will be a key player for Turkey (Photo: BSR Agency/Getty Images)Venezuela struck first in the 13th minute through Shakhtar Donetsk forward Gleiker Mendoza, who curled a stunning goal into the top corner from outside the box. Mendoza who will play for the Ukrainian side once the season starts, will be coached at club level by former Turkey star Arda Turan, one of the country’s most celebrated players of the modern era, whose career included spells with Galatasaray, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.Turkey responded just before halftime. In the 44th minute, Arda Güler’s swinging corner nearly found the net after rattling the post, and Baris Alper Yilmaz reacted quickest to the loose ball, poking home the equalizer inside the box. The winning goal arrived nine minutes into the second half. Yunus Akgun, who had entered after halftime, unleashed a stunning strike from outside the penalty area to complete the comeback.After the match, Montella praised the quality and intensity of the contest, noting that both sides played with an attacking mindset. But the Italian coach also admitted that generating chances alone is not enough to win at the World Cup level. “Creating opportunities doesn’t automatically mean you’ll win the match; it doesn’t always work that way,” he said.“The distance between the lines and playing compactly become even more important. We will work hard and address our shortcomings.”In regards to their first match, Montella said he had watched Australia’s recent warm-up match ahead of Turkey’s World Cup opener and described the Socceroos as a team with a variety of strengths.“They are a team with different qualities. We need to improve our own performance and play our own game,” Montella said. “The World Cup is demanding for everyone.“The travel distances are long and the weather conditions can vary significantly. Whoever adapts the quickest will have an advantage. There’s no point in making excuses. This is the national team, you have to deliver your best performance.”Jun 7, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms