12.06.2026 16:50
Tanju Çolak, one of the important goal scorers of Turkish football, spoke about the National Team that will compete in the World Cup. Criticizing Montella for squad unfairness, Tanju Çolak said, "We will struggle in the first round as well. It seems easy, but we have injuries. There are problems in our system. There is unfairness in the players he fields. If all of this reflects on football, the team will lose every match they play without morale and motivation."
Former national footballer Tanju Çolak, one of Turkish football's "goal kings," said of the National Football Team that will take the field in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, "We will pass the first round, but what will we do after that, how will we do it... We will struggle even in the first round. It seems easy, but we have injuries. There are problems in our system." Çolak answered questions from an AA reporter about the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a visit to the Parliament.
"WE LACK A STRIKER"
Çolak, noting that Türkiye qualified for the World Cup again after a long break, cited the national teams of Brazil, Argentina, and Spain as the favorites for the cup.
"CENTER-BACKS WILL COME TOO, EVERYONE WILL COME"
When asked, "Can Türkiye be a favorite?" Çolak said, "It could be, but our team lacks a striker. Montella plans to play without a striker, but that era is over. A team cannot play without a striker. You need to be inside the penalty area to score goals. If you don't hold anyone in the penalty area, center-backs will come to score goals, everyone will come."
"THERE IS INJUSTICE"
Çolak also evaluated the squad preferences of National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, saying, "We will pass the first round, but what will we do after that, how will we do it... We will struggle even in the first round. It seems easy, but we have injuries. There are problems in our system. There is injustice in the players he fields. If all this reflects on the football, the team will lose every match it enters without morale and motivation."
"WE HAVE TWO STARS"
Çolak, listing his favorites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Türkiye and Spain, noted the following:
"Their squad is extraordinary. They have many stars. We have two stars: one is Arda, one is Kenan. The others are not stars, they are warriors on the field. Of course, warriors are also needed. Football is a strategic game. Whoever organizes themselves better, whoever feels happier and more prepared, will surely be the winner. Physical condition before taking the field, morale, motivation, bilateral relations, thoughts, the players' love and respect for each other—these are very important, very valuable. I think whoever does these well will become champion."