Cannavaro Bows to Portugal and Ronaldo: «Give Him an Inch, and You're Dead»

Fabio Cannavaro readily acknowledged Portugal's superiority following Uzbekistan's 5-0 defeat, singling out Cristiano Ronaldo as a decisive factor in the match.

«You can't give Ronaldo an inch, because if you do... you're dead. We conceded two goals very early on in a way I had already warned the players about; I prepared them for it. When you face Portugal, who are so good in midfield and down the flanks, everything becomes more difficult. I saw more motivation in Portugal compared to their first game,» stated the Uzbekistan coach, offering a direct analysis of the encounter.

«The disallowed goal really shook our confidence, and that's a shame. The team was starting to play like they did against Colombia; they were growing into the game, controlling the ball better, and finding their rhythm. When we lose our balance, everything becomes much harder. Colombia is a great team, but Portugal has a different dynamic. I've watched many of their games, and they know exactly what they're doing. They have something extra,» he added.

«It's normal to lose against Portugal. I asked my players to be braver and not to be afraid. In my opinion, only with that mentality can you grow as a team and as a player. Furthermore, there's an 18-year age difference between some players on the two teams. As a coach, I have to trust my players, because against Portugal, if you just defend and close down spaces, you'll lose 99 percent of the time. Why not try something different? I never asked them to sit back. I prefer my team to have the courage to face opponents, even if it means losing. We are here to gain experience. This is Uzbekistan's first time participating in a World Cup. The objective is very clear, but winning a World Cup is another story,» he concluded.

When asked if, at the peak of his career, he would have been able to stop Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2006 Ballon d'Or winner responded with a laugh and a dose of admiration for the Portuguese captain: «I stopped him many times, but he also scored many goals. I retired a long time ago, and he's still playing. I congratulate him; he can play for a few more years, so why should he stop?»