Uzbekistan suffered a crushing 0-5 defeat against Portugal in their 2026 World Cup Group K match on 23/6 in Houston, United States. Coach Fabio Cannavaro revealed that his players had been warned about the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo but were ultimately unable to contain him, especially in the crucial early stages of the game.
On the Houston field, Uzbekistan appeared outmatched, controlling the ball for only 34% of the game. They managed 7 shots with two on target, registering an expected goals (xG) ratio of 0,25 compared to Portugal's dominant 2,41. Cannavaro stated that his team paid the price for conceding two early goals, with Ronaldo opening the scoring in the 6th minute. The 41-year-old striker then added another before halftime, contributing to Portugal's 3-0 lead.
"You will pay a heavy price if you give Ronaldo even an inch. We conceded two goals too early despite warning the players", coach Cannavaro remarked, emphasizing the impact of Ronaldo's clinical finishing.
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Ronaldo (left) talks with coach Fabio Cannavaro (in black shirt) during the Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan match, in Group K of the 2026 World Cup, in Houston, United States on 23/6. *Photo: AP*.
When asked if he could have stopped Ronaldo in his playing days, the former defender, who won the 2006 Ballon d'Or, acknowledged that he had faced Ronaldo many times, both successfully and unsuccessfully. "At this age, I have been retired for a long time, but Ronaldo is still playing. I must congratulate him. He can play for many more years", Cannavaro added, praising the veteran's enduring career.
From a tactical perspective, Cannavaro identified Portugal's superiority in midfield and on the wings as a key factor. He noted that this made Portugal a more formidable opponent than Colombia, who had defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening match.
Portugal's dominance was evident throughout the match, as they maintained 64% ball possession and took 17 shots, with one-half of them on target. Their pass accuracy also reached 90%. Cannavaro expressed that against such a high-class opponent, his role was to encourage his players to push forward and not simply defend. "Losing to Portugal is normal. When facing them, if you limit yourself to only defending and closing gaps, you will lose 99% of the time. Why not try something different? I never asked the players to sit back", the Italy coach explained, advocating for a proactive approach.
Beyond Ronaldo's two goals, Uzbekistan's net was also breached by Nuno Mendes' free-kick in the 17th minute, an own goal by Abduvohid Nematov in the 60th minute, and Rafael Leao's strike inside the penalty area in the 87th minute.
Portugal currently sits with four points after two matches in Group K of the 2026 World Cup. Should they secure a victory against Colombia on 27/6, Ronaldo and his teammates will advance as group winners. In the round of 16, they are set to face one of the five third-placed teams from groups D, E, I, J, and L.
Thanh Quy (according to A Bola)
