Montella on what unites Turkey with Italy and facing Spalletti | OneFootball

Vincenzo Montella jokes that Turkey fans remind him of Neapolitans and EURO 2024 in Germany will be ‘a bit like being at home,’ as tonight he faces Luciano Spalletti’s Italy in a friendly.

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

There are circa 25,000 fans at the Stadio Dall’Ara this evening, but by no means all of them are supporting Italy.

“The Turkish are a bit like us Neapolitans, they are more or less everywhere in the world,” Montella told Sky Sport Italia.

“When we play in Germany, it will be a bit like being at home.”

Turkey begin their EURO 2024 campaign against Georgia on June 18, then Portugal on June 22 and Czechia on June 26.

“The country gave me a very warm welcome, I am happy, we are playing tonight against the reigning European Champions. I am happy, it will be an emotional day for me, obviously.

“Italy have the same story all the time, they are very competitive, especially in major tournaments.”

Montella reunited with Spalletti

The coach turns 50 later this month and has been on the Turkey bench since September 2023, overseeing three wins, one draw and two defeats.

He is under some pressure after losing the most recent friendly 6-1 to Austria on March 26.

This is also a special game for Montella because he is facing his former coach Spalletti, who took over the Italy job in September 2023.

“I worked with Spalletti at Empoli, Sampdoria, of course for many years at Roma, we are friends and there is a rapport of great affection. I think over the years he proved himself to be the best and that makes this game mean all the more to me.”