SOCCER: Uzbekistan coach Cannavaro striving to make more happy World Cup memories

Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro says his team must show greater fighting spirit against Portugal after their 3-1 opening loss to Colombia in the World Cup. He also warned against focusing too heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo, stressing Portugal’s overall attacking depth.

Nick Said / Reuters

June 23, 2026

SOCCER: Uzbekistan coach Cannavaro striving to make more happy World Cup memories

Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro arrives for the press conference during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Uzbekistan media event at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas, United States, on June 22, 2026.

Pedro Nunes / Reuters

HOUSTON — Uzbekistan must show greater intensity and discipline when they face Portugal in their second World Cup match, head coach Fabio Cannavaro said Monday, following their 3-1 opening defeat to Colombia.

Making their debut on football’s biggest stage, Uzbekistan are still adjusting to the demands of the tournament. Cannavaro, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 2006, said the team must learn quickly from their first match and respond with greater fighting spirit.

“As I have always said, we have nothing to lose,” Cannavaro told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s Group K match. “Portugal always like to control the game. They start in a very good way and want to play fast. We will be prepared for that.”

“We have our strategy. We know we are going to face a very good team. We will try to do our best and stay in the game until the end,” he added. “I asked my team to play with more fighting spirit than against Colombia, but we cannot just run around stupidly everywhere.”

Cannavaro also cautioned against focusing too heavily on Portugal’s star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a quiet outing in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We cannot focus only on Cristiano. He is one of the greatest players ever, but Portugal has many good players and strong options on the bench,” he said. “Having said that, Cristiano can score in every situation. We need to be very careful.”

Reflecting on his transition from World Cup winner as a player to national team coach, Cannavaro said the experience feels different but still special.

“As a player you think on more of an individual level, but as a coach you cannot do that. You need to think about the team, the strategy, and how to communicate with the players,” he said.

“I don’t try to show them videos of how it was to lift the World Cup because that was 20 years ago. I try to show them how it is to play as a team,” he added. “When you are at a World Cup, it stays with you forever. I am lucky because I have very happy memories.” -Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters