Historic offensive drought: Austria and Ghana exit without a shot

Austria and Ghana have become the latest World Cup casualties to leave the tournament without a single shot on target. Both sides suffered knockout defeats – Austria 0‑3 to Spain and Ghana 0‑1 to Colombia – within days of each other.

The Austrian national team entered the World Cup having secured only the minimum objective of reaching the round of 16. Their reward was a clash with the 2024 European champions, Spain, in the knockout phase.

Spain swept Austria aside 0‑3, leaving the Alpine republic with little chance of a comeback. Austria failed to register a single shot on target throughout the encounter.

A few days later, Ghana endured a comparable fate against Colombia, losing 0‑1. The Black Stars also did not manage a single shot on goal.

Since 1966, only three World Cup knockout matches have seen a team so toothless in attack. Austria and Ghana have now almost doubled that number within a span of days.

The twin defeats create a historic negative double, highlighting the rarity of such offensive impotence. Both teams are eliminated from the World Cup after producing no shots on target in their knockout matches.