2026 World Cup / Turkiye World Cup nightmare: 33 shots, zero goals, and early elimination
The World Cup campaign of Turkiye has ended in devastating fashion, eliminated after just two matches following a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay that exposed a remarkable attacking inefficiency.
Despite dominating possession and unleashing 33 attempts on goal, Vincenzo The side of Montella could not find the net.
The match was effectively decided after just 64 seconds when Matias Galarza fired Paraguay into the lead from outside the penalty area the fastest goal of the tournament.
The situation grew stranger in first-half stoppage time when former Newcastle midfielder Miguel Almiron received a straight red card following a VAR review, making tournament history under a new rule designed to prevent players from covering their mouths during disputes.
However, the numerical advantage proved irrelevant as the finishing woes of Turkiye continued.
62 Shots, no goals
Across two matches, Turkiye have registered 62 attempts without a single goal a staggering statistic that defines their tournament collapse. Only 12 shots have found the target, a conversion rate below 20 percent.
“We created chances, but somehow the ball doesn’t go in,” Montella fumed. “The opponent comes once, and it’s a goal. The destiny was not on our side.”
Can Uzun came closest to rescuing a point in the 89th minute, but goalkeeper Gill produced the save. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder ended in tears alongside defender Mert Müldür.
“I will do everything to make this tournament forgotten,” said Real Madrid’s Arda Güler. Captain Hakan Çalhanoglu, perhaps playing his final World Cup, struck a reflective note: “Football can be ruthless. We gave everything, but it wasn’t enough.”
