How Turkey took 62 shots and scored no goals in World Cup's most miserable campaign so far

Turkey's World Cup campaign ended in painful fashion, recording 62 shots without a goal across losses to Australia and Paraguay. The stat marks the most attempts without scoring in a two-match span since record-keeping began in 1966, underscoring a misfiring attack under coach Vincenzo Montella. The side exited on day nine of the 2026 tournament, a premature finish that offered little forward momentum. Top talents such as Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, and Hakan Calhanoglu were unable to convert chances, and much of the danger came from long-range efforts that failed to threaten the net. Their expected goals tally from those attempts stood at 3.5, highlighting quality gaps alongside quantity. Shots from outside the box dominated the tally, with 51.4 percent from distance and 29 efforts from 24 yards or more, illustrating a lack of precision in the final third. Guler, viewed as the creative fulcrum, accounted for 11 shots that missed or went off-target, while Yildiz and Calhanoglu contributed 12 and 11 respectively as 14 players tried to spark a response. Ugurcan Cakir joined the attack late in a last-gasp sequence, reflecting the chaotic end to the campaign, and Montella’s future appears in jeopardy amid questions over development and direction.