“It was a real blow for us,” says Can Uzun. No dodging the issue, no sugar-coating, no attempt to play down Türkiye’s disappointing start to the . Their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Australia was more than just an opening-match setback – it was a blow to their self-belief, an early knock for a team that had travelled to the tournament brimming with talent, hope and attacking quality.
Eintracht Frankfurt forward Uzun, who did not feature against Australia, is, however, looking forward rather than backward: “The tournament really starts for us now – and for me personally, too.”
For Türkiye, the second group match against Paraguay is one that could see their position in the table quickly improve, but also one in which this young, inexperienced team must show how they can cope with setbacks. For Uzun and his team-mate Kenan Yildiz, it could also be the next chapter in a shared journey that began long before this World Cup.
Their story began in the Bavarian city of Regensburg, where both were born in 2005. After leaving school, they played football together on local pitches and spent time in the youth academy of SSV Jahn Regensburg before their careers took them down different paths. Uzun ended up in Frankfurt via Ingolstadt and Nuremberg, whilst Yildiz joined Bayern Munich before moving on to Juventus.
Uzun says that Yildiz has been his best friend ever since childhood. His father used to take Yildiz to training, and they carried on playing afterwards as well. “We used to play football every day, we laughed a lot together, and we still do that today,” says Uzun. “It’s still like it was back then: laughing, joking and playing football together. The only thing that’s changed is that we’re pros now.”
Yildiz also links his earliest World Cup memories with Uzun. In 2014, when he was nine years old, Yildiz sat in front of a big screen with Uzun and watched Germany v. Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar were, then as now, players that kids looked up to. “We always wanted to be like them,” says Yildiz. “I thought I might be able to do it one day. And now here I am.”
That “here and now” is a major international event which, together with national pride and glory, also brings expectations and pressure. Yildiz also regards the opener against Australia as a personal milestone, despite the bitterly disappointing result: “There’s no bigger stage than the World Cup,” he said. “It only takes place once every four years. It was my tournament debut, so one of my biggest childhood dreams came true.”
The Turks’ stuttering start to the tournament will have taught the two youngsters that the World Cup is not just a place where dreams can come true, but also one where tough challenges must be overcome. Despite their pre-match belief and their undoubted attacking quality, Türkiye failed to break the Socceroos down, and Vincenzo Montella’s team, bursting with young, creative players such as Yildiz, Uzun and Arda Guler, will now know that talent alone is never a guarantee of success. But this is a talented generation that has led Türkiye to the World Cup for the first time since 2002, and it now faces a real test of its mettle.
“I don’t think we played that badly in the first match,” insists Yildiz. “Of course, there are always things that need improving and that you have to work on.” His analysis is sober and clear – identify mistakes, learn from them and do better in the next match. No drama, no excuses.
Uzun takes a similar tone, emphasising the mental aspect: “We are professionals and have had to cope with setbacks many times before. We need to work on that. I know there’s pressure, but we’re very good players and we’ll do everything we can to win the match – and I include myself in that.”
Paraguay will represent the first fork in the tournament road for this Turkish team. The South Americans lost their opening match against USA, so both teams know that another setback would make their path to the round of 32 considerably more difficult. It looks likely to be a match in which technique and tactics will only go so far; positive energy, mental strength and a willingness to go the extra mile will be just as important.
Uzun expects exactly that: “I think it’s going to be a very aggressive, heated match. Both teams really need to win. They [Paraguay] also lost their first game, so they will be under pressure too and will be really fired up. But we’ll do everything we can to win.”
“We have the utmost respect for Paraguay,” echoed Yildiz. “They have good players; it’s a great country. I hope it’ll be a great match.”
The Türkiye players will be leaning heavily on their coach, Montella. Uzun describes him as warm-hearted, strong-willed and a good fit for the squad. “I’m in good hands with him,” he says. “I trust him completely.” After a false start, such moments of calm and serenity can be invaluable. Without panicking or making any grand statements, but by showing composure, precision and, above all, a cutting edge in the attacking third, Türkiye will be aiming to secure their first World Cup win since the match for third place in 2002.
And so, the next chapter of Uzun and Yıldız’s journey that began on Regensburg’s football pitches could take place in a match that could set the course for an entire nation… and it may well be two childhood best friends who end up playing leading roles.
Sources: FIFA Official
