20.06.2026 09:30
Şenol Güneş, who commented on the match where the Turkish National Football Team lost to Paraguay and was eliminated from the World Cup on TRT Spor, said, "When we talk about these things, it becomes sensitive. There are also deficiencies here. We are not inferior to them, but we did not play the game that would make us better than them. When the quality drops like this, it stands out in the World Cup. Even if there were 11 different players, I don't think anything would change. If we had played with another 11, nothing would have changed either."
Şenol Güneş, one of the important technical directors of Turkish football, evaluated the match where the Turkish National Football Team lost 1-0 to Paraguay and was eliminated from the World Cup on TRT Spor.
"ANYTHING CAN BE SAID"
Şenol Güneş began his evaluation with the words, "Anything can be said... At the beginning, when we came here, our hopes were very high, our goal was big. On paper, we said we could reach the quarter-finals. We had position and game superiority, despite looking good, we couldn't get results. We were also superior in player abilities. Football is a game of results; when results aren't achieved, analysis is done and decisions are made."
"WE WERE TEMPO-FILLED BUT DISORGANIZED"
Evaluating the struggle, Şenol Güneş said, "I watched the last 10 minutes from the sidelines with a coach's eye... I saw effort, they were more tempo-filled but we were disorganized. He made changes, positions came but it didn't work. The opponent took the lead with their first shot, first goal. We expected them to defend anyway. They close well, make quick transitions. In the first goal, we stayed too far from the opponent and allowed a shot. They also gave us shot opportunities, but they always hit the opponent. They also did well in diverting to side paths, they wasted time. That's their natural right.."
"IT STANDS OUT IN THE WORLD CUP"
Continuing his words, Güneş said, "Our players didn't have the things to bring results proportionate to their abilities. Their flanks were weak; we came well at times but couldn't find the goal. Even though they were down to 10 men, we still made mistakes when they broke out. With this quality drop, it stands out in the World Cup. While expecting the quarter-finals, with the trauma of the first match, we also conceded a goal in the first minute. We expected things at a higher level. Players need to surpass themselves, not the opponent. I think that's the problem! All our playing players are good, but they need to surpass their own game! While trying to surpass the opponent, we leave ourselves incomplete. Pass quality, shooting must be good."
"WE ARE NOT LACKING BUT..."
Describing the disappointment, the experienced coach said, "We expected more from our players, that is our right. They won't resent these. They made great progress while achieving success before, but this level is not enough. We trust them; they will highlight their physical strength and abilities through work. When these are discussed, there is sensitivity. There are also shortcomings here. We are not lacking compared to them, but we didn't play the game to be better than them. Even with 11 different players, I don't think anything would change. If we had played with another 11, nothing would change either."
"WILL STUDY HIS LESSON"
Stating that everyone will study their lesson after the failure, Güneş said, "The coach will study his lesson, and the players too... I know the players' sadness, but there's nothing to do! We need to learn from it and do better. It's not about settling scores or blaming; it's about finding the truth with different and new ideas."