Uzbekistan national football team head coach Fabio Cannavaro commented on the 1-3 loss to DR Congo in the final group stage match of the World Cup, which ended the team's participation in the tournament.
Uzbekistan took an early lead through Eldor Shomurodov in the 10th minute, but conceded three goals in the second half to finish with a defeat. The team now exits the World Cup without a single point.
According to Cannavaro, the team knew it would be difficult without controlling possession. 'We spent a lot of energy in the first half. Our physical performance had been good before today, and we moved well physically today as well. The opponent was also well-prepared in that aspect. We knew it would be tough if we didn't control the ball. In the second half, we made mistakes and conceded goals as a result,' Cannavaro was quoted as saying by the Uzbekistan Football Association.
Cannavaro noted that Uzbekistan started the match well and created several chances in the first half. 'Today we started the first half very well and had many opportunities. But in the second half, we began to make mistakes,' the head coach said.
He added that the World Cup experience was valuable for the team. 'This tournament was a great experience for both me and the players. I think it will give us great motivation in the future,' Cannavaro stated.
The coach also said he had extensive communication with the players and that the team correctly assessed the level of opponents in the group. 'Of course, I talked a lot with the players. We knew we had to play against strong teams in our group. But we regret this result. Yes, we made mistakes. However, I don't want to complain about the players at all. They did everything they could, and I am proud of them,' he said.
Following the loss to DR Congo, Uzbekistan finished their World Cup campaign and left the tournament. DR Congo secured third place and advanced to the Round of 16 with 4 points, where they will face England. In the parallel Group K match, Portugal and Colombia drew 0-0.
Fabio Cannavaro's side lost all three matches in the tournament, conceding 11 goals and scoring only 2.
Source: www.gazeta.uz