Cannavaro: Every Match Matters Before World Cup

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro подчеркнул важность каждого матча в преддверии чемпионата мира, speaking ahead of a friendly against Gabon.

“Despite the fact that these are friendly matches, we step onto the pitch with the maximum objective — to win. Ahead of the World Cup, every game is important,” the coach said at a press conference.

Cannavaro noted that it is still too early to speak about the final squad selection. The extended list includes 55 players, but the окончательный состав will be determined based on their performances in the national championship. The head coach stressed that in the upcoming matches he plans to give opportunities to all players in order to objectively assess their form.

“During the training camp in Dubai, I held individual conversations with a large number of players. Their motivation left a positive impression on me,” Cannavaro added.

Special attention is being paid to the team’s physical condition. “What concerns me most is not the level of the players, but their fitness. Before the World Cup, we will have only two to three weeks, and in that time it is impossible to significantly improve physical condition. Therefore, we have been working systematically on this aspect since January,” the coach emphasized.

He also said that five goalkeepers have already been assessed, and if there were any inaccuracies in selection, players still have a chance to prove themselves.

The head coach assured that he is closely monitoring all candidates and selecting those who best meet the team’s requirements.