20.06.2026 13:10
Our National Football Team's 1-0 loss to Paraguay, ending their World Cup journey, caused widespread resonance in the European press. Major publications such as Marca, Gazzetta, Tuttosport, De Telegraaf, and The Guardian featured the early farewell of the Crescent-Stars on their front pages. Here are the details..
In the second match of Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, our National Football Team faced Paraguay and lost 1-0. Falling behind with a goal by Matias Galarza in the second minute, the Crescent-Stars had numerous opportunities but failed to find the net.
Despite Paraguay playing the second half with ten men, the Nationals could not change the score and, failing to earn any points after two matches, bid farewell to the tournament.
EUROPEAN PRESS SHOWCASES EARLY EXIT
Our National Team's elimination from the World Cup at the group stage became one of the most talked-about topics of the day in the European press. Many newspapers and sports websites featured the disappointment of the Crescent-Stars on their front pages.
MARCA: "ARDA AND KENAN COULDN'T PREVENT ELIMINATION"
Spanish newspaper Marca reported the news under the headline "Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız cannot prevent Turkey's elimination." The report stated that Paraguay believed in the match more and took control after the early goal, emphasizing that the South American representative pushed Turkey out of the World Cup.
GAZZETTA: "DREAMS OF THE GOLDEN GENERATION ARE OVER"
Italy's leading sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, evaluated our National Team's farewell with these words: "Turkey says goodbye to the World Cup, to America, and to the victory dreams of its young golden generation. They were eliminated in tears after two consecutive defeats."
TUTTOSPORT HIGHLIGHTS MONTELLA
Tuttosport particularly drew attention to Vincenzo Montella's disappointment in the report. The Italian newspaper stated, "Kenan Yıldız bids farewell to the World Cup, great disappointment for Montella. Turkey lost to Paraguay despite the opponent playing half the match with ten men."
DUTCH PRESS: "DRAMATIC EVENT"
De Telegraaf, one of the leading Dutch newspapers, commented on the match with the words "a dramatic event for Turkey." The newspaper wrote that the result was surprising despite Paraguay being down to ten men and that the Crescent-Stars were eliminated after just two matches.
THE GUARDIAN: "AN INEFFECTIVE TURKEY"
British newspaper The Guardian highlighted that Paraguay's goal was one of the earliest of the tournament. The report said, "Paraguay, down to ten men, scored the earliest goal of the World Cup so far, defeating an ineffective Turkey 1-0."
DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE WORLD AGENDA
Our National Team, which started the World Cup with high hopes after 24 years, being eliminated at the group stage received extensive coverage in the European press. The fact that the result remained unchanged despite Paraguay playing with ten men for a long time was highlighted as one of the most surprising details in many countries.