Turkey was eliminated from the World Cup after just two matches despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The team failed to score in either of its games against Australia and Paraguay, registering a total of 62 shots without finding the net.

Turkey’s opening match ended in a 2-0 loss to Australia, a result that was surprising given the statistical advantage held by Turkey. They outshot Australia 30 to nine but conceded two goals and were unable to capitalize on their offensive chances. The expectation was that Turkey’s attacking play, which included 1.33 expected goals in that game, would improve their fortunes in their second match against Paraguay.

However, the second game only highlighted Turkey’s scoring difficulties. Despite holding 78.6% possession, the sixth highest ever recorded by a team at a World Cup since 1966, Turkey still failed to break through Paraguay’s defense. Their expected goals for the match stood at 2.17, but once again they were unable to convert shots into goals. This marked a World Cup record, as no team in the tournament’s modern history has taken as many as 62 shots over two consecutive matches without scoring.

Turkey’s elimination is attributed largely to their finishing woes despite an impressive level of control and offensive pressure. Their inability to translate possession and shot volume into goals left them without points and out of the tournament at an early stage, underscoring the importance of clinical finishing in international competition.