Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Thursday, 26 March 2026, 07:44 / Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2026 07:45
Left out of the squad for Turkey's matches at the end of the month, Enes Unal (28 years old, Bournemouth) showed confidence that Vincenzo Montella will qualify for the World Championship, where he hopes to be part of the squad.
- Turkey – Romania will be played on March 26, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the World Cup qualification final against Slovakia/Kosovo on March 31, 2026.
- Gazeta Sporturilor has 6 experienced reporters in Istanbul, who deliver the most important information, reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.
11 years ago, Enes Unal was considered the most promising Turkish footballer. As a centre-forward, Unal had scored 181 goals in 108 games for Bursaspor's junior and youth teams, and Manchester City paid €4m to secure his services when the Turk was 18.
Enes' career did not go as expected: many loans, a few transfers for a lot of money, and from 2024 he plays at Bournemouth, in the Premier League, where he failed to establish himself as a first-team player. He is one of the 3 Turks in the English Championship, along with Altay Bayindir (Manchester United) and Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton).
Given that he plays very little in the club team, only 201 minutes in 18 games this season, Enes was not called up for the “double” this month-endwith Romania tonight, then with Slovakia or Kosovo. Depending on the result of the first match, the second will be official, with qualification on the table, or just friendly in nature.
Watching from the sidelines, Enes Unal is confident that Turkey's current squad is capable of handling decisive matches and will do so again this time.
Uninvited, Enes Unal has total confidence in the Turkish national team: “Montella straightened the team”
“The situation of the national team is very good; we have fit players, we have stars, we have fighters. We have a team that loves each other, that is united, that wants to do beautiful things and that wants to raise the level of football in the country.
Our national team can definitely go to the World Cup. If it wasn't for the luck of the draw [pentru grupe]we could have gone straight. I think Spain is currently the best in the world.
Still, it turned out to be a good draw [pentru baraj]. We will be playing against some good teams who should not be underestimated. Modern football has evolved a lot, any country's team can cause problems. Our coach is very good about it anyway, I don't think he will compromise.
We have players who are performing at the highest level. We have footballers constantly competing in Turkey and Europe. The system introduced by the coach and the way he brought us together are very important. It was great to see the players develop at a high level, gaining tactical and defensive discipline, and to meet Vincenzo Montella [la lot].
Before it was a team that constantly struggled, now it's a team that cuts things. We are a team that competes well in the big games. Vincenzo Montella turned the team around in a very simple way. It is typical of an Italian coach. Organized short sessions, individual discussions and group meetings. In particular, forming a defensive identity is not a very difficult thing.
He managed to convince the group. In the national team, many players perform in many matches and are constantly under pressure. And putting extra pressure on the player at national level creates problems. It is very important to make the player feel relaxed. The coach has established this balance very well.
Everyone is happy, they come to the meetings with love and train with determination,” commented Unal, who was in the squad a few times during Montella's tenure, the last time in the fall of 2024.
Dreaming of the World Cup: “I hope to be part of the squad”
The Bournemouth striker also expressed confidence that he will make the squad for the World Cup should his countrymen qualify.
“I hope I will be part of the squad for the World Cup. It's not easy, my situation has been known for a long time, the injuries I've been through, but I'm trying to do as much as I can. I'm trying to get as many minutes as possible.
In January, I wanted to play for another team to get in shape, I did that to be able to play in the World Championship. That's how important the World Championship is to me, but it wasn't possible; the club didn't let me because they told me they needed me here.
I want to give my best in the remaining matches, play more and be present at the World Championship. Everyone's dream is the World Championship. It is the highest point a footballer can reach. You represent your country,” said the Turkish striker, according to Fotomac.
