Fabio Cannavaro had no doubts in recognizing Portugal’s superiority after Uzbekistan’s 5-0 defeat and pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the decisive factors of the match. “You can’t give an inch to Ronaldo, because if you do… you’re dead. We conceded two goals very early in a way that I had already warned the players about; I prepared them for that. When facing Portugal, so good in midfield and down the flanks, everything becomes more difficult. I saw more motivation in Portugal compared to the first game,” said the Uzbek coach in a direct analysis of the match. “The disallowed goal shook our confidence a lot, and it’s a shame. The team was starting to play like it did against Colombia; it was growing into the game, controlling the ball better, and finding its rhythm. When we lost our balance, everything became much more difficult. Colombia is a great team, but Portugal has a different dynamic. I’ve seen many of their games, and they know exactly what they are doing. They have something more,” he added. “It’s normal to lose against Portugal. I asked my players to be braver and not to be afraid. In my opinion, only with that mentality can you grow as a team and as a player. Moreover, there is an 18-year age difference between some players on both teams. As a coach, I have to trust my players because against Portugal, if you just defend and close spaces, you will lose 99 percent of the time. Why not try something different? I never asked them to sit back. I prefer my team to have the courage to face opponents, even if that means losing. We are here to gain experience. This is Uzbekistan’s first time participating in a World Cup. The goal is very clear, but winning a World Cup is another story,” he concluded. When asked if, at the peak of his career, he would have been able to stop Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2006 Ballon d’Or winner replied with laughter and a dose of admiration for the Portuguese captain: “I stopped him many times, but he also scored many goals. I retired a long time ago, and he continues to play. I congratulate him; he can play for a few more years, so why would he stop?”
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