We have our own plan and strategy – Cannavaro

Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro shared his thoughts ahead of the second-round World Cup group stage match against Portugal.

The Italian specialist emphasized the opponent’s high level, calling Portugal one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

“Our opponent is one of the strongest teams at the World Cup. They have very strong players on the wings, and their midfield is considered one of the best in the world. One of the greatest players in football history is also playing for this team. Therefore, this will not be an easy match. But we are at the World Cup, and to achieve a positive result, we must act and work as a team,” Cannavaro said.

According to the coach, the coaching staff has thoroughly analyzed Portugal’s playing style.

“Portugal likes to control the game through possession. They start matches actively and try to gain an advantage as quickly as possible. We have also prepared for this. We have our own plan and strategy. We will try to show our own game on the pitch. We know we are playing against a strong opponent, but we are not afraid of that,” he said.

Cannavaro also spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo.

“We are not playing only against Ronaldo. He is one of the greatest footballers in history, but Portugal is not just him. There are many high-level players both in the starting lineup and on the bench. Nevertheless, Ronaldo cannot be left unattended for even a moment in the penalty area. He is capable of scoring at any time, both from set pieces and during open play,” the coach said.

Cannavaro also noted that the team’s physical condition has improved.

“Since we joined the team, our main focus has been on improving the players’ physical condition. In the last match, we saw that the players were in good shape. The team finished the game at a high tempo, and everyone felt good,” he said.

The coach also addressed statistics, stressing that one of the key factors in football is ball control.

“In my opinion, if a team loses the ball a lot during a match, it also spends more energy trying to win it back. Therefore, it is not about running a lot, but about moving correctly. It is very important not to lose the ball and to know where to win it back. We know that Portugal’s statistics are high in many aspects, and we have analyzed this,” Fabio Cannavaro said.

For reference, the Portugal-Uzbekistan match will start today, June 23, at 10:00 p.m. Tashkent time. The match will be officiated by Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed.