Turkey arrived at their first World Cup in 24 years with high expectations and a host of rising stars, but they crashed out goalless and in tears after another shocking failure to convert chances against Paraguay.
Paraguay Holds On Despite Red Card
Despite facing 10 men for more than a half, Turkey slumped to a 1-0 defeat against the spirited South Americans after racking up 32 goal attempts, being eliminated with a match to spare. This followed their 2-0 opening defeat by Australia, where they also had 30 fruitless attempts, thwarted by poor finishing and staunch opposition defense.
The combined 62 shots without a goal were the most in any two-match span in World Cup history since data collection began in 1966. That wastefulness was amplified by Paraguay's incredible efficiency as Matias Galarza struck the tournament's fastest goal with a stunning 25-metre strike just over a minute into the match.
Close Calls for Turkey
Turkish fans will wonder what might have been had Mert Muldur's 35th-minute header from a free-kick gone in off the crossbar rather than rebounding against the post. That was as close as Turkey came despite players queuing up for attempts right up to the finish, with Baris Yilmaz, Can Uzun, and Merih Demiral all failing to convert good chances.
Arda Guler, the 21-year-old pinup boy of Turkish soccer, apologized to the nation. "We tried very hard but it didn't work. But we should have scored some goals," he said. "We should have won these games ... Everybody's sad, everybody's crying."
Stunning Fall for Turkey
It was a stunning fall for a team that made a swashbuckling run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. A golden generation of players anchored by the young talents of Guler and Kenan Yildiz had appeared set to make their mark on the global stage. Instead, Turkey's players and staff will face a fierce reaction at home before their final group game against the USA, who have already qualified for the last 32.
Paraguay's Grit and Determination
For Paraguay, it was a win for the true believers following their dreadful display against the USA. Coach Gustavo Alfaro backed his no-frills squad to turn it around, and his decision to bring in Galarza, who was unused against the USA, proved a masterstroke. After the midfielder's goal, it was grit, determination, and a generous dollop of luck that kept their tournament alive.
Not even a red card in first-half stoppage time could deny the South Americans, though their task was made harder by Miguel Almiron's dismissal for remarks made to Muldur with his hand covering his mouth. Almiron fell foul of a new rule approved at a meeting of the International Football Association Board in April.
Alfaro praised his players' mettle. "It's nothing about tactics or strategy here. This victory, this result is to the credit of the players," he said.
