Lessons from a First World Cup: Reactions After Uzbekistan's Match Against Portugal
The Uzbekistan national team suffered a 5–0 defeat to Portugal in the second round of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was the team's second match at the tournament, which marks Uzbekistan's first-ever appearance on football's biggest stage.
Cannavaro Takes Responsibility
After the match, Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro refused to criticize his players.
“If we lost 5–0, then the mistakes were mine, not the players’.”
The Italian coach also said he was proud of his team despite the result.
“I am very proud of my players.”
According to Cannavaro, participation in the World Cup should help the team continue its development.
“We are here to learn.”
Disallowed Goal Becomes a Turning Point
With the score at 2–0, Azizjon Gʻaniyev found the back of the net for Uzbekistan. However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to an infringement earlier in the attacking move.
After the match, Cannavaro acknowledged that the incident affected the team's morale.
Raimov: “The National Team Has Already Fulfilled the Dream of Its People”
In his post-match column, Uzbek football journalist Yevdokim Raimov urged readers to look at the team's performance in a broader context.
“The Uzbekistan national team has already fulfilled a long-held dream of its people.”
More Than Just One Result
Even before the tournament began, Cannavaro encouraged his players not to be afraid of making their World Cup debut.
“I try to explain to them that they should enjoy this moment because it ishappening for the first time, and we have nothing to lose,” Cannavaro said ahead of the match against Colombia.
The tournament continues for Uzbekistan. In their final group-stage match, the team will face DR Congo. Regardless of the outcome, this World Cup has already become a historic milestone – the first FIFA World Cup appearance in the history of Uzbek football.
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