Türkiye was eliminated from the World Cup, Calhanoglu was in pain: "We broke everyone's hearts"
The Turkish team was officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, and captain Hakan Calhanoglu expressed deep disappointment and responsibility for the team's results.
Türkiye suffered a painful defeat at the 2026 World Cup, when this team could not pass the group stage. Placed in Group D with Paraguay, the United States and Australia, the team led by coach Vincenzo Montella was unable to win tickets to the next round and had to return home. They had a victory against the United States but suffered two heavy defeats, which has diminished the Turkish players' hopes of continuing their journey in the biggest tournament on the planet.
As captain, Hakan Calhanoglu took responsibility and shared his feelings with fans through an Instagram post: "There are many things to say today, but there are no words enough to express the disappointment and sadness I am feeling." "We have cherished this dream for a long time. We wanted to represent our country in the best way at the World Cup and bring pride to our people. Unfortunately, we couldn't do that," he added.
Calhanoglu also emphasized: "Every day, I feel pride and responsibility when wearing this shirt. And today, as captain, I accept responsibility for this result first and foremost for myself. I know... you are sad. You are hurt. You are angry. Some of the criticism we receive is very harsh, but there are also things that are completely right."
He continued: "Because whoever wears this shirt carries the hopes of the country. We were unable to meet those expectations on the field. And I, along with the whole team, feel the heaviest burden of this." "The journey to the World Cup, which we have been looking forward to for many years, unfortunately ends here," he added. "We know that we have broken the hearts of millions of people who believed in this dream with us, who lived with us both joy and sadness. Therefore, we sincerely apologize to our people. But football is not simply about victories. Sometimes, the biggest challenge is knowing how to get up from where you have fallen."
Finally, Calhanoglu pledged: "We will work even harder. We will come back stronger. We will continue to fight to the end to complete our unfinished story today, to honor this icon, to become hope for everyone who believes in us, and to bring pride to our children. Thank you to everyone who did not abandon us even in this moment. Please forgive us", were the words. The 32-year-old player's last message.
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