Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro said after the defeat to DR Congo that the team regrets the result, but this World Cup should be a great experience and motivation for the players for the future.
Uzbekistan lost to DR Congo 1-3 and finished their first World Cup without a single point in the standings. "We knew we would have to play against strong teams in our group. But we regret this result," Cannavaro said after the match.
Cannavaro also noted that in the first half the team moved well and created many chances. At the same time, the coach emphasized that the coaching staff understood in advance that without ball control, the match against DR Congo would be difficult.
"In the first half we spent a lot of energy. Until today, our physical condition was good, and today we also moved well. The opponent was also physically well prepared. We knew that if we didn't control the ball, it would be hard for us," the team's mentor stated.
After the break, DR Congo turned the game around. In the 68th minute, Yoane Wissa converted a penalty, in the 78th minute Mayele put the Congolese ahead, and in stoppage time Wissa scored a double and put an end to the match. According to the head coach, mistakes in the second half were key.
"Today we started the first half very well, we had many opportunities. In the second half we started making mistakes. That's why we conceded goals," Cannavaro explained.
The coach added that he does not intend to blame the players. According to him, this tournament was a great experience for both the players and himself.
"Yes, we made mistakes. But I don't want to complain about the players at all. They did everything they could, and I am proud of my players," the head coach emphasized.
Earlier it was reported that Uzbekistan lost to DR Congo and ended their participation in the 2026 World Cup. According to the results of Group K, Colombia and Portugal advanced directly to the playoffs, while DR Congo advanced through the ranking of best third-placed teams.
Source: podrobno.uz