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"Talk s--t": Turkey captain doubles down on Socceroos sledge
SEN • June 15th, 2026 8:22 am
- Netherlands 0-0 Japan
- Germany 7-1 Curacao FT
World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way.(All times AEST)
THANK YOU TURKIYE
Australia's opening goal scorer of the World Cup Nestory Irankunda says the dissing from Turkiye pre-match was a huge motivator to get the three points.
A day out from the clash in Vancouver, Hakan Calhanoglu told the media: “I think we will dominate (Saturday), the game, because we have more qualities and a more talented team,” Calhanoglu said of Australia. “So we will see what happens.”
He wasn't alone in minimising the threat Australia posed in the Group with numerous US pundits also suggesting the Socceroos had no chance.
But trash talk all you want, is the message from camp.
“Obviously that gave us fire in our belly,” Irankunda said.
“It obviously did piss off a few boys, but at the end of the day, these guys can talk all their s***, so we don’t really care.”
Even after losing 2-0, Calhanoglu stood by his sledge.
“I don’t think they did the same like you," he said. "We dominated today, Australia was just behind, defending good.
“Two long goals, they scored. It was our mistakes.
“If you go through the whole 90 minutes and you don’t score, it means you have to always be focused.
“Never give up because I think we did a good game, just we didn’t score.”
CURACAO HIT FOR SEVEN
It was the perfect start for Curacao...and nobody saw it coming but the dream turned to a nightmare for the tiny island who just suffered the heaviest defeat as a World Cup debutant side since South Korea in 1954.
Germany's opener from Felix Nmecha was cancelled out by Livano Comenencia, and the small nation's hopes lifted.
But the drinks break allowed Germany to regroup and then came the onslaught to secure them their first opening match victory since they won the tournament in 2014.
