Uzbekistan head coach, Fabio Cannavaro, has taken full responsibility for their 5-0 drubbing in the hands of Portugal.
The 2026 World Cup debutants have been eliminated following their second Group K match.
After the game, Cannavaro praised the players’ efforts and blamed himself for his tactical approach to the game.
He however claimed that Azizjon Ganiev’s disallowed goal at 2-0 affected the team’s confidence.
“All my life I have taken responsibility, as a player and as a coach. If we lost 5-0, it is because today I made mistakes, and not them (the players),” Cannavaro told reporters.
“This is our first time at the World Cup. I told the players that they can misplace a pass and make mistakes. Because I must give them the confidence to try and improve.”