Uzbekistan national football team head coach Fabio Cannavaro and captain Eldor Shomurodov participated in a press conference in Mexico City on the eve of their first World Cup match.
At the start of the press conference, the Italian coach noted that the team is making its World Cup debut and all players are ready for the upcoming game. “We will give our all so that Uzbekistan can be proud of us. The match will be difficult; we will face a good team with good players,” he said.
Cannavaro expressed his delight that the first match will be held at the legendary Azteca Stadium. “I have been to this stadium before; Maradona scored his most brilliant goals here. We are very happy to play our first match at this historic venue,” he stated.
Speaking about group opponents, Cannavaro acknowledged their high level of play. “They have strong players in their squad. We will play cautiously against them,” he added.
Regarding the upcoming match, the coach said the coaching staff has analyzed Colombia’s game. “They play until the last second. But we will also take the field to showcase our capabilities,” he said.
When asked about defender Abdukodir Khusanov, Cannavaro emphasized that he is one of the most important players in the team’s defense. “He can reach an even higher level. He is already performing at a high standard,” Cannavaro noted. He added that Khusanov understands the attention around him and is intelligent enough to control the situation and pressure.
Regarding Jaloliddin Masharipov’s exclusion from the squad, the Italian coach explained that he had played only 20 minutes in the last eight months and the decision was made due to an injury, not a knee problem. “We decided not to take big risks. Unfortunately, we lost a wonderful player,” he said.
Commenting on Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s remarks about the intensity of training, Cannavaro stated: “If you want to achieve something, you have to go through difficulties and prove it to everyone. Difficulties in training are natural.”
Asked how he shares his World Cup experience with players, Cannavaro stressed that each tournament is different. “I have won the World Cup, participated four times as a player, and each preparation was different. I try to remove pressure. We are in a tough group: Colombia, Portugal, and DR Congo, whose 90% of players compete in leagues like the Premier League. I tell players to enjoy the game; we have nothing to lose. We must show people how we want Uzbek football to develop in the future. Since I arrived, I have tried to instill this idea. We are at the World Cup, we will give our all,” he said.
“We are participating in this tournament for the first time, so we must enjoy every match and gain experience,” the coach added.
Captain Eldor Shomurodov also answered questions. When asked about the team’s mood before the first match, the striker emphasized that all players are in excellent spirits. “We are playing in the World Cup for the first time. There is excitement, but no pressure. All our players are looking forward to this game,” the team leader said.
Speaking about working with Fabio Cannavaro, the Basaksehir forward noted that the coach has prepared them for a new pace. “He tells us that to win the World Cup, relying only on tactics is not enough; here, teams that play with all their hearts win,” he said.
Shomurodov also mentioned that leading the team as captain at the long-awaited World Cup is a great honor. “I hope we show a positive result tomorrow. I ask our people to support us. We have no pressure; tomorrow at 20:00 (Mexico City time) we will be 110% ready as a team,” the forward added.
Uzbekistan’s match against Colombia will kick off on June 18 at 07:00 Tashkent time.
Source: www.gazeta.uz