Fabio Cannavaro Reviews Uzbekistan World Cup Campaign

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Fabio Cannavaro, the head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, has commented on the national team's performance at the 2026 World Cup, where it concluded the group stage with three defeats. In an interview with Championat.Asia, the Italian specialist stated that he understands the disappointment of the fans, but considers participation in the tournament an important stage in the team's development.

According to Cannavaro, he realized how difficult the tournament would be for a World Cup debutant even after the draw. He noted that the team experienced serious psychological pressure related to its first appearance in the world championship, and the coaching staff sought to help the players focus on the game and relieve unnecessary tension throughout all three matches.

The manager emphasized that the national team, the coaching staff, and the Football Federation gained valuable experience. In his opinion, the players were able to feel the level of world football and understand the demands placed on participants in a tournament of this scale.

Commenting on the frequent changes to the starting lineup, Cannavaro noted that 23 out of the 26 called-up players received playing time. He admitted he only regretted not being able to bring the remaining three players onto the field, as he wanted every footballer to experience the World Cup atmosphere. At the same time, some of the personnel changes were necessitated by injuries and a lack of match practice for a number of players at their respective clubs prior to the start of the tournament.

The head coach stated that he takes full responsibility for the team's results, but does not believe the decisions made were erroneous. According to him, the team strove to improve its play and displayed quality football at times. Cannavaro noted that he evaluates specific segments of the matches against Colombia and DR Congo positively, while the meeting with the Portugal national team proved to be the most difficult for the squad. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the players gave their all to the game.

Speaking about future work, the specialist reported that during the short preparation period, he chose virtually not to alter the team's playing model, which predominantly used a three-defender formation under former head coach Srecko Katanec. An additional problem, according to him, was the loss of defender Husniddin Alikulov before the tournament.

Cannavaro noted that the team will work on tactical changes in the future, but the main priority remains the ability to maintain concentration until the final whistle. According to him, one of the primary issues for the national team was conceding goals in the final minutes of matches, where mistakes at such a high level inevitably lead to punishment.

The coach announced that the Uzbekistan national team will reassemble in September to continue its preparations. He emphasized that following their participation in the World Cup, the main objective for the team becomes a successful performance at the Asian Cup.

After the conclusion of the world championship, Cannavaro will travel from the United States to Italy. According to him, the players and coaching staff require a rest after two months of intense work, and the next team training camp will take place in September.

Post-Match Press Conference: Uzbekistan's Fabio Cannavaro On The 5-0 Loss To Portugal

This official press conference video highlights Fabio Cannavaro directly addressing the media's questions and explaining his tactical perspectives during the national team's challenging debut tournament run in North America.