Hakan Çalhanoğlu breaks his silence! 'Please forgive me'

The A National Football Team bid an early farewell to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, after failing to advance from its group. Following the team's return to the country, national team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu shared his feelings with fans via his social media account.

The experienced midfielder, whose performance in the tournament was criticized at times and who did not find a chance to play in the final match, expressed his sadness and apologized, acknowledging that there was validity to the criticisms. Çalhanoğlu emphasized that as team captain, the primary responsibility for the failure belongs to him.

"I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE ANYONE ELSE"

"There is so much to say today, but no words are enough to describe the disappointment and sadness I feel. We have been dreaming of these days for a long time. We wanted to represent our country in the best way at the World Cup and give our nation an unforgettable sense of pride. Unfortunately, we could not achieve this. I have felt every day what a great honor and responsibility it is to wear this jersey. And today, as the captain of this team, I take responsibility for this result before anyone else.

I know… You are sad. You are hurt. You are angry. Some of the criticisms we received were harsh, while some were completely justified. Because everyone who wears this jersey carries the hopes of this country on their shoulders. We could not live up to those hopes on the pitch. I feel the responsibility for this more than anyone, along with the team.

The World Cup journey we have longed for for years has unfortunately ended here. We know that we have broken the hearts of millions of people who believed in this dream with us and shared both our joy and our sorrow. For this, we sincerely apologize to our nation. But football is not just about victories. Sometimes the greatest test is to be able to get back up from where you fell. Just as I was proud to be your son while winning yesterday, I bow my head with the same sense of belonging while losing today, and I say with the same pride, 'I am a child of this country.' This sacred flag has taught us never to give up.

We will work harder. We will return stronger. We will continue to fight to the end to complete our unfinished story, to do justice to this crest, to be a source of hope again for everyone who believes in us, and to give our children the pride they deserve. I thank everyone who did not leave us alone today.

Please forgive me."

News Source: 12punto