17.06.2026 09:41
National goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır said they are feeling the sadness of the defeat in the Australia match, but they have a chance to make up for it in the Paraguay match. Emphasizing that the friendship within the team is very good, Çakır stated that they want to make the country proud by winning the next two matches.
The National Football Team will face Paraguay in the 2nd match of Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Before this match, national goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır answered questions from the press at a hotel in Arizona.
Stating that the match against Australia did not go as they wished, Çakır said, "Sometimes being too motivated doesn't work. That's how it went for us. We were upset, but we have a chance to make up for this mistake in the Paraguay match. We must prepare for the match with focus. We all need to know our duties and play accordingly. It wasn't a final. We all wanted to win the first match. We wanted to make our country proud. It didn't go as planned. There are 6 points ahead of us. The first match is against Paraguay. We want to win and get 3 points."
"WE WANTED TO WIN SO MUCH, BUT IT DIDN'T REFLECT ON THE FIELD"
The 30-year-old goalkeeper, who said they were saddened by the result of the match against Australia, stated, "Coming here was actually our dream. We came here after 24 years, and we wanted to make our country proud in the first match. I think there was even an emotional pressure about it. When we saw the televisions set up in the squares, we wanted to respond. We wanted to win so much, but it didn't reflect on the field. The team's morale is good. We've forgotten the first match. There are two matches ahead that we can call finals. We want to win these and make our country proud."
"THERE IS NO SITUATION IN THE TEAM AS WRITTEN OUTSIDE; THE FRIENDSHIP IS VERY GOOD"
Emphasizing that the current squad achieved successful results in the 2024 European Football Championship and the Nations League, the national goalkeeper said, "We were the ones who did these. There haven't been many changes. We added a few more people to the team. It was the same squad. There is no situation in the team as written outside. The friendship is already very good. This has brought us great successes, like the World Cup after 24 years. Things may be written outside. I don't think there is a problem with the friendship. We are happy, and training is fun. We got an unwanted result in the first match and saddened our country. I think we can compensate for this. We will prepare for the Paraguay match with our best performance. In the Paraguay match, hopefully, we will get the result we want."
"WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE UP FOR THIS IN OUR PARAGUAY MATCH"
Stating that criticism may occur, Uğurcan Çakır said, "Their criticism is welcome. If you play football, you need to be open to criticism. There is no need to exaggerate it. We have a chance to make up for it in our Paraguay match. Yesterday is behind us. We need to look ahead. We are also looking ahead."
"I TRUST MY TEAMMATES A LOT"
Expressing that they analyzed the Australia match, Çakır said, "We saw what we did wrong. Our coach also showed many positive positions. It wasn't very important that we had the ball. We saw what we did wrong. The analysis of the Australia match is done. We are preparing for Paraguay. We will work hard in training. We will be united, and we will try to get a good result as we always do. I believe we are players with the character and talent to achieve this. We think we can achieve it too. There are two more matches ahead. Yesterday is behind us; we will look forward. I trust my teammates a lot."
The national goalkeeper, who stated that he played below his own standard against Australia, said, "Sometimes these matches can happen to you. I would have liked to not concede a goal and help my teammates more. Hopefully, in the other matches, I will try to do that."
"WE CONCEDED GOALS FROM THE PLACES WE PRACTICED IN THE AUSTRALIA MATCH"
The 30-year-old goalkeeper, noting that the friendly match against North Macedonia before the World Cup was played for the Australia match, said, "We won that match. We analyzed Australia very well. We conceded goals from the places we practiced. We wanted to focus a bit more and minimize our mistakes. Hopefully, we will do that in the Paraguay match. The coach showed many times in the analysis; we conceded goals from the same position. We knew how the opponent would play. We conceded goals unfortunately."
"WATER BREAKS ARE NOT PLEASANT AT ALL"
Uğurcan Çakır also shared his thoughts on the water breaks given during matches in the World Cup, saying, "Water breaks are not pleasant at all. The match cools down, and our concentration breaks. I don't like it at all. There are teams that play that way; it might be good for them. In our matches, it's not extremely hot. These breaks are not good."
"THE BREAKING POINT IN THE AUSTRALIA MATCH WAS THAT WE COULDN'T SCORE"
When asked about the breaking point in the Australia match, Çakır said, "The breaking point was that we couldn't score. When you can't score, emotions take over reason. On the field, you want to do more than what you have. Faced with those emotions, you can't find logical positions. There is the responsibility of our country, so we experience our emotions intensely. The opponent's preference was for us to have the ball. We didn't have very clear positions. We did what the opponent wanted. We could have produced different solutions; we had practiced them, but it wasn't meant to be. We will do our best in the Paraguay match."
"NO MATCH IS EASY ON PAPER"
Emphasizing that no match is easy on paper, the national goalkeeper said, "In analysis, you can't see some things about the opponents, but when you go on the field, if the person's desire, ambition, concentration, and focus are greater, no matter how talented you are, they have a chance to beat you. Even Spain drew; everyone says they are the best team in the world. This can happen. In 2002, our elders achieved great successes. The match is played on the field. I've played nearly 400 matches. I don't remember winning any match easily." Uğurcan Çakır also said he has gotten used to the weather conditions and time difference over time.
"THEY WILL SAY 'THEN WE'LL PLAY THE FINAL'"
Regarding the question about what kind of criticism they expect if they win the Paraguay match, the 30-year-old goalkeeper concluded, "Then they will say 'we'll play the final.' We want to make our country happy. Our country also wants to be happy. America is playing in the World Cup. Do they expect us to lose? I can't understand that. All their criticism is welcome. We have taken the necessary lessons and done our analyses. There are two matches ahead. Hopefully, we will win against Paraguay and make our country happy. I love all my teammates very much, and I trust them all. The slogan 'It's not over until it's over' was from back then. Hopefully, we can succeed. We were very happy in 2008. Our country is waiting for us to be happy if we win. Hopefully, we want to give them that."