Fabio Cannavaro reveals details of his conversation with Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro spoke about the details of his meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in an interview for the "Markaziy Sektor" project. In a conversation with Davron Fayziyev, the Italian specialist supported the President's words to the players, emphasizing that these thoughts are crucial for the team.
According to Cannavaro, the dialogue with the President was very positive and sincere. He specifically noted that the head of state has a deep understanding of football and a clear vision for its development.
"Our conversation was excellent. The reason is that the President knows football very well. He has a great understanding of how to develop the sport," said Cannavaro.
During the meeting, the Italian coach shared his background from Naples and how football culture was formed in Italy. According to him, football in Italy was played not only in stadiums but also on streets, village fields, and even around churches, which was considered a natural part of life.
Cannavaro linked the rapid development of football in Uzbekistan to the President's attention and understanding of the sport. He believes that the high level of focus on football is fueling the formation of a new generation of players in the country.
One of the most important aspects of the conversation was the psychological state of the players ahead of the World Cup. Cannavaro emphasized that the President told the national team members they should play without fear or pressure when they reach the tournament.
The Italian coach fully supported this view. He stated that a player can only show their best performance when acting freely, confidently, and without fear. Psychological pressure is very high in major tournaments, so it is vital for players to enter the pitch without excessive anxiety.
"It is true that a player can only show their best performance if they play without fear," said Cannavaro.
The head coach also told his charges that they should enjoy the 2026 World Cup. In his view, the World Cup is a major football festival for Uzbekistan. The national team is not going to this competition just to participate, but to show their capabilities to the whole world.
For Cannavaro, this is a very important point. Since the Uzbekistan national team is participating in the World Cup for the first time in its history, the team should not remain under pressure thinking only about results, but instead gain experience, confidence, and enjoyment from every match.
The Uzbekistan national team will play its first match at the 2026 World Cup against Colombia on June 18. In the following rounds, our representatives will face Portugal and Congo. These opponents are strong, but as Cannavaro said, every team at the World Cup has the right to showcase its potential.
In short, Fabio Cannavaro shared details of his meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and supported the head of state's view on playing without fear. The 2026 World Cup will be a major football festival for Uzbekistan. Now the main task is to feel the opportunity, not the pressure. At the World Cup, it is the confident team, not the fearful one, that will be remembered.
