Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said he was shocked by the team’s World Cup elimination at the ​hands of Paraguay on Friday but held nothing against his players ‌after another fruitless night in front of goal.

Turkey failed to overhaul the 10-man South Americans, losing 1-0 despite 32 goal attempts, to crash out with a ​match to spare.

“We create the opportunities, but somehow the ​ball doesn’t go in,” Italian Montella told reporters. “The other team ⁠gets their moment and scores. It’s really shocking to say goodbye ​to the World Cup after only two matches.”

Paraguay struck with the fastest ​goal of the tournament so far when Matias Galarza lashed home from long-range on 64 seconds.

Turkey, widely tipped to challenge the US for top spot in ​Group D, were also wasteful in their first match against Australia, ​losing 2-0 despite firing off 30 shots and dominating possession.

“We could certainly have ‌been ⁠more accurate, but I don’t feel in a position to hold anything against the players,” said Montella. “I love these players even more than I did before because they showed heart and soul. Football is not ​logical. That’s what ​makes it the ⁠most beautiful sport in the world.”

It was a bitter night for Turkey fans, 24 years after ​their previous World Cup when they made the 2002 ​semi-finals in ⁠Japan and South Korea.

Montella said Turkey needed to qualify more regularly for big tournaments.

“Perhaps, even unconsciously, the pressure of playing in a major ⁠tournament ​after such a long absence affected us,” ​Montella said. “We need to develop the habit of participating in major tournaments. I believe ​things will improve from there.” [Reuters]

Source: Ekathimerini.com