Orkun Kokcu and Muhammed Sengezer Doubtful for France Clash: Montella's Headache

This afternoon at the TFF Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp in Riva, the door closed behind reporters. Turkey's training session took place in unusual silence, but the list of absentees from internal sources was enough to spark a wave of concern: Orkun Kokcu did not take part in training because of a lingering toe injury, while goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer also sat out with a minor injury. Meanwhile, Mustafa Eskihellac had his first training session with the national team after being called up as a replacement. This was no ordinary session. It was the final training session before the UEFA Nations League A League Group 1 match against France, and every signal from this session could affect the outcome. Turkey host France at Kocaeli Stadium – one of the biggest challenges of the year. France, with a star-studded squad and superior squad depth, enter the match as heavy favourites. Turkey, despite playing at home, are clear underdogs. Football does not follow theory. At Kocaeli Stadium, the home crowd will create a fervent atmosphere, and Turkey have long been known as a team that performs better with the energy of their fans behind them. The home advantage in international football cannot be measured by statistics, but it is real. The big question is whether Turkey have enough personnel to exploit this advantage. Orkun Kokcu is not an ordinary player. He is the creative hub of the national team, the tempo-setter, the set-piece taker, the link between midfield and attack. When he is absent, Montella's entire system must change. The drills this afternoon – passing, finishing, tactical organisation and a full-pitch tactical match – were designed to test alternatives, but no alternative is truly equivalent. I have followed Kokcu since his days in the Netherlands. He is the kind of player you cannot replace with a like-for-like substitute. You need to replace him with a different system. Historically, France have dominated Turkey. However, matches between the two sides on Turkish soil have always been tense and unpredictable. In 2026, Turkey shocked France 2-0 in Konya. That match showed that when playing to their strengths – defending compactly and transitioning quickly – Turkey can topple bigger teams. But this match has one major difference: the midfield. If Kokcu is unavailable, Turkey lose their ability to control possession and escape pressing – two essential tools against France's pressing game. France's midfield, full of physical and technical players, could easily overrun a midfield lacking creativity. As for Muhammed Sengezer, his minor injury is less concerning. In recent camps, Sengezer has usually been the backup option for the number one goalkeeper spot. However, if Montella plans to rotate or if the starting goalkeeper has issues, Sengezer's absence could leave a gap in the backup list. A national team competing in the Nations League needs at least three quality goalkeepers in the squad. With Sengezer out, Montella must put his faith in the remaining goalkeepers. This is not a dangerous situation, but it reduces safety in the reserve department. Mustafa Eskihellac joined the squad around noon and immediately trained with the team. This is a positive signal. He brings flexibility to the defence – an area where Turkey need more options against France's diverse attack. I have witnessed many late call-ups making a big difference. They bring high morale, hunger to prove themselves, and less psychological pressure. Eskihellac could be a surprise card up Montella's sleeve. When the market celebrates goals, I look at the substitutes – where contracts begin. In the national team context, the same principle applies: while everyone focuses on whether Kokcu plays, Eskihellac and other squad players are the ones who determine the team's depth. The closed training session under Montella is no coincidence. He wants to test tactical solutions away from media scrutiny. Senior TFF officials – the Deputy President, General Secretary and Chief Advisor – watched the entire session. Their presence shows the strategic importance of this match. A factor that cannot be ignored is the congested fixture schedule. Players are in a demanding phase of the club season, and constant travelling between domestic and international matches takes a toll. Kokcu's toe injury may stem from overload. In this situation, Montella's decision on whether to use Kokcu is not simply tactical. It is a football, legal and financial decision. Kokcu is contracted to Benfica, a club with a strict player-protection policy. If his toe worsens against France, Benfica could demand compensation from TFF. In the transfer market, a release clause is never just a number – it is a declaration of war. Personnel decisions here work the same way. But let us pause and look from the opposite angle. Perhaps all these concerns are being blown out of proportion. First, toe injuries are the kind that players can play through. They hurt, but they are not dangerous. Many players have competed with similar injuries and performed well. The question is whether Montella is willing to take the risk – and in a big match against France, fielding Kokcu below full fitness could be a double-edged sword. Second, the closed training session could be a psychological tactic by Montella. By leaking news of Kokcu's and Sengezer's absences, he forces France's staff to prepare for multiple scenarios. In a tense match, making your opponent think about hypotheticals is an advantage. I learned this from my own failure at the 2026 World Cup. I rushed to claim Takashi Inui would join Sevilla based on one article, but I missed the release clause in his contract with Eibar. The lesson: never jump to conclusions from surface-level news. Dig into the details. In this case, we have no contract to read, only a training absence. Those rushing to write off Kokcu may be repeating my mistake. Third, France are not without problems. Despite their quality, France often struggle away against passionate crowds. Kocaeli is not an easy place to play. If Turkey execute a disciplined defensive plan and capitalise on set pieces, they can get a positive result. In elite football, injuries are not just a health issue. They are a negotiation issue. Every day a star spends on the sidelines has a hidden price – team value, contract value, personal brand value. Kokcu understands this. Montella understands this. France understands this too. The biggest question remains: will Kokcu play? And if so, at what percentage? The answers will come at the official press conference at 20:15 and the pitch inspection at 21:00. Montella will face direct questions from the media, and how he answers will reveal a great deal. Exclusive news does not come from those who talk a lot, but from those who have been silent for too long. Kokcu's silence in training today is a clearer signal than any statement from the coaching staff. Trophies are lifted in May, but decided on winter afternoons reading contracts. In international football, matches are decided in closed training sessions like this. Let's see what Montella brings. Because in football, there are no fake rumours – only listeners who are not patient enough.