Cannavaro - in Uzbekistan: reaction of the world press, hopes and doubts...

Fabio Cannavaro, who became world champion for Italy in 2006, will participate in the World Cup as a coach twenty years later. His appointment as head coach of the Uzbekistan national team has sparked widespread discussion among foreign media and experts - some have high hopes, others have doubts.

The current coach of the national team, Gennaro Gattuso, with his usual joke:

"I called Cannavaro and said, 'You're going to the World Cup with perfume, shaving your head, and I'm fighting for a spot,'" he recalled with a smile.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among the first to send congratulations, emphasizing that Cannavaro, as the captain of Italy, lifted the Cup 20 years ago, and now, as the head coach of Uzbekistan, he is heading to the World Cup.

Famous expert Fabio Capello assessed this appointment as "a very correct decision": "He has extensive experience and will definitely help Uzbekistan."

Alejandro Sato from the Spanish publication AS: "Cannavaro faced his first serious challenge as a coach. Creating a competitive project from a collection in the development stage is an interesting, but very complex task."

FoxSports (USA): "A new page has opened in the history of Uzbek football."

Spanish commentator Jose David Lopez wrote more sharply: "This is a big mistake."

Cartoonist Omar Momani, even before his appointment, jokingly wrote: "Abdukodir Husanov will be the happiest" - alluding to the fact that both are representatives of the central defense school.

On social media, Manchester City fans expressed their expectations, believing that Husanov would gain more knowledge and experience under Cannavaro.

A deal in the 2+3 formula: a two-year contract with the option to extend for another three years. Cannavaro will be assisted by compatriots - Augenio Albarayella, Troize Francesco, and Antonio Climenti.

As a footballer, he played for Napoli, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Real Madrid in the summers of 2006-2009. The winner of the 2006 World Cup, the holder of that year's Ballon d'Or, is the only defender who has received this award.

His coaching career is bustling: Guangzhou Evergrande, An-Nasr, Tianjin, Guangzhou again, the Chinese national team for a short time, then Benevento and Udinese. His last place of work was Dinamo Zagreb (December 2024 - April 2025), where he permanently left due to unsatisfactory results.

The foreign press is in two different moods: one rejoices, calling it a "new page," and the other looks at it with concern. However, the fact remains unchanged: Uzbekistan is going to the World Cup for the first time in its history, and Cannavaro will prepare the team for the world stage. Stable composition, correct choices, and psychological stability will be the main challenge for the Italian coach. The criteria for success are simple: a worthy performance and result at the World Cup.

As the fans say: now the word is on the field.