Turkey Out of World Cup After Shock Loss to 10-Man Paraguay; Fans Demand Coach's Exit

Turkey's "golden generation" has crashed out of the 2026 World Cup, failing to advance after a second straight defeat. The team's hopes were dashed with a 0-1 loss to Paraguay, a result that mathematically eliminates them from the tournament.

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A shameful elimination! We left home with our heads down in front of a team with 10 men!

The match was marked by a bizarre incident in the first half when Paraguay's Miguel Almiron received a red card for covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to an opponent. This new FIFA rule, intended to prevent offensive gestures, led to Almiron's expulsion in the 45th minute, leaving Paraguay to play with 10 men for the entire second half. Despite the numerical advantage, Turkey could not find the back of the net.

Turkish media expressed shock and disappointment, with publications highlighting the "shameful elimination" against a team playing shorthanded. Images of young stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz in tears after the final whistle underscored the heartbreak felt by the squad. The "golden generation" has crumbled, leaving fans devastated.

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Broken hearts! The golden generation collapsed in tears at the final whistle!

Following the team's dismal performance, which includes two losses without scoring, fans have taken to social media to demand the resignation of coach Vincenzo Montella. Montella attributed the losses to "destiny," stating that such matches happen rarely in a career, but for Turkey, it occurred in two consecutive games. The calls for his dismissal are growing louder as the team heads home early.

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I gave everything I had. I've been in football for 35 years. Matches like this happen once in 50 games. Unfortunately, we experienced this in two games. We took over 60 shots.