22.06.2026 09:20
Support for Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who is under criticism in our National Team after bidding farewell to the World Cup, came from his spouse. Sinem Çalhanoğlu reacted to the criticisms by saying, 'It is easy to claim ownership when winning and look for someone to blame when losing.'
Our National Football Team bid farewell to the tournament at the group stage after defeats against Australia and Paraguay in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following the elimination, criticism towards the technical staff and players increased, and team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu became one of the most talked-about names on social media.
NOTABLE POST FROM HIS WIFE
Hakan Çalhanoğlu's wife, Sinem Çalhanoğlu, reacted to the criticism directed at her husband and the national team players in a post on her social media account. Sinem Çalhanoğlu emphasized that the team and the captain fought until the final whistle.
"HE IS THE SAME CAPTAIN YOU WERE PROUD OF YESTERDAY"
Using striking expressions in her post, Sinem Çalhanoğlu included the following words:
"When we came to the World Cup, he was our captain, and today, as we are eliminated, he still is. The captain you are targeting today is the same captain you were proud of yesterday. The team you criticize today and the captain you single out are the same people who brought you to the World Cup."
"ONLY YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAS CHANGED"
Stating that the national team's character has not changed, Sinem Çalhanoğlu argued that the criticism is result-oriented. She said, "What has changed is neither the captain's effort nor this team's character. The only thing that has changed is your perspective."
"IT IS EASY TO CLAIM VICTORY AND SEEK BLAME IN DEFEAT"
Expressing that the criticisms are unjust in the continuation of her post, Sinem Çalhanoğlu used the following statements:
"Blaming today what you applauded yesterday shows that you love the result, not the game. This team and its captain fought until the final whistle, but in football, sometimes it just doesn't happen. It is easy to claim victory and seek blame in defeat."
BECAME A TRENDING TOPIC ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Sinem Çalhanoğlu's post quickly resonated widely on social media. While some users supported the post defending the national team captain, others argued that the criticism due to the World Cup performance was natural.