Turkey will continue with coach Stefan Kuntz despite a humbling 2-1 defeat by the Faroe Islands in the Nations League at the weekend, the country’s football federation said.
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Turkish media slammed the loss, pointing out that the island nation has a population of only roughly 49 000 people, making it one in 1726 times smaller than Turkey’s 85 million.
“There are more goats than people on that island. Size doesn’t matter,” said Fanatik, a popular sports newspaper.
Last week, Turkey drew 3-3 with Luxembourg at home.
Since taking over in September of last year, German manager Kuntz has won seven games, drawn two, and lost three.
According to Turkish Football Federation board member Hamit Altintop, Kuntz will remain as head coach.
“We gained momentum with the new coach. We showed the positive image of this in June. The last two games made us consider what’s going on. We have taken a step back. But I stand by the coach,” Altintop told reporters.
Turkey had won five of its previous six games to secure promotion to League B, going into the Group C1 matchup on Sunday.
But early in the second half, goals from Viljormur Davidsen and Joan Simun Edmundsson gave the hosts, who are currently ranked 125th in the world (83 places below Turkey), a two-goal lead.
Serdar Gurler, who scored Turkey’s only goal, said the atmosphere in the dressing room was similar to that of a “funeral home”.
“We are incredibly sad. There is no excuse for this. Maybe we didn’t want it as much as they did. We didn’t fight,” he said.
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