Uzbekistan Coach Cannavaro Takes Blame for 5-0 Loss

Fabio Cannavaro, the head coach of the Uzbekistan National Football Team, accepted full responsibility for the team's 5-0 defeat against Portugal during their second group match in the 2026 World Cup. Cannavaro praised the players' efforts but criticized the tactical approach taken during the game.

He specifically mentioned that a disallowed goal by Azizjon Ganiev, which would have brought the score to 2-0, significantly impacted the team's confidence. Cannavaro acknowledged that mistakes were made, particularly in terms of misplaced passes, and emphasized that the loss was not due to the players' shortcomings but rather his own decisions as the coach.

This match marked Uzbekistan's debut in the World Cup, and Cannavaro expressed a commitment to improving the team's performance moving forward.