Fabio Cannavaro Reflects on Uzbekistan's Defeat to Portugal

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, Fabio Cannavaro, took part in the official press conference following the match of the second round of the World Cup group stage, in which his team lost to Portugal with a score of 0-5.

The Italian specialist emphasized that the republic's debut participation in the world championship could not be easy by definition, and the high level of the opponents in the quartet was obvious from the very beginning. According to the mentor, after the draw placed such strong national teams as Portugal and Colombia into Group K, the coaching staff and football players clearly understood the full complexity of the upcoming tournament path.

Despite the heavy final score, Fabio Cannavaro expressed support for his players and stated that he feels proud of the team just as he did after the opening match against the Colombians. The head coach focused attention on the character of the Uzbekistani footballers, who, having faced serious difficulties on the field, demonstrated resilience and did not stop fighting until the final whistle.

The Italian expert also paid tribute to the opponent, noting that confronting a team equipped with high-class players in all lines is always extremely difficult. He added that the Portuguese national team took to the pitch with maximum motivation, but for the Uzbekistan national team, every such match at their debut global championship remains, above all, invaluable international experience necessary for further professional growth.