Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro reflected on his country's 1-3 Group K opening loss to Colombia, saying the team aimed to 'represent Uzbekistan with dignity to the world' despite the result. This was Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup match. The squad attempted to control the game but found it difficult against Colombia's possession-dominant style.
Cannavaro acknowledged the difficulties facing his team in their tournament debut. 'It's hard to play without the ball against a team like Colombia,' he said. 'We tried to control the game. Today's match was useful for us. There were mistakes and we'll work on them.' He noted that the match would be remembered as 'historic' for Uzbekistan despite the defeat.
Cannavaro praised his team's second-half display. 'In the second half the squad played well,' he said, 'but unfortunately conceded a goal.' Uzbekistan scored once but could not overcome Colombia's advantage. The nation continues its Group K campaign against DR Congo on June 22.
→ Match stats and preview on ScanGoal