Twenty years after lifting the World Cup trophy as Italy’s captain, superstar Fabio Cannavaro is now back at the world's most important tournament, guiding Uzbekistan towards its first appearance on football's biggest stage.
“It's the first time we are going to the World Cup, it's the first time I am coaching in this kind of tournament,” Cannavaro told Euronews in an exclusive interview.
“I saw many players with great ambition. They want to learn, improve, work hard and of course we have nothing to lose.”
For the Central Asian country of some 36 million, qualifying for the tournament marked a historic breakthrough after decades of near misses.
Uzbekistan now faces a tough group including DR Congo, Colombia with James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz, and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. But Cannavaro believes the unpredictability of the World Cup is what makes anyone able to stand up to the giants.
“I think it's a very tough stage, because Colombia and Portugal are among the top 20 teams in the world,” he explained.
“Congo, many players play in Liga 1, in Premier League, so it will be tough. During the World Cup, you cannot say one is stronger than another because it's the World Cup.”
The former Azzurri defender, widely regarded as one of the greatest centre-backs of all time, took charge of Uzbekistan’s national team as the country intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A native of Naples who made a name for himself as a sturdy yet elegant and tactically intelligent player, Cannavaro is no stranger to football's drama, excitement and its ultimate rewards.
In 2006, he lifted the World Cup trophy in Germany, earning the nickname "Il Muro di Berlino" or "The Berlin Wall" for his performances which saw Azzurri keep five clean sheets and concede just two goals.
Part of both Juventus which he led to the Serie A title and Real Madrid's Galacticos in the same year, he became one of the few defenders in history to win the Ballon d’Or — an honour he shares with just two other football legends, Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer.
After retiring as a player, he moved into coaching, managing clubs in China, Saudi Arabia and Europe before taking on the challenge in Uzbekistan.
Now, instead of competing on the pitch himself, the man who once marshalled the troops on the pitch is in the dugout, helping a new generation of players prepare for a moment no Uzbek footballer has experienced before.
“World Cup is something that, as a football player, is a dream,” Cannavaro said.
“As a footballer, it's the most important tournament, and to participate there is a privilege. In the meantime, you need to understand that there will be a very nice atmosphere around," he explained.
"You need to be enjoying, you have to be happy to participate in this tournament.”
Mentality of giant slayers
Inside the squad, competition for places has intensified as the tournament approaches.
Midfielder Otabek Shukurov, who plays for Baniyas in the UAE Pro League, told Euronews that the team is trying to focus less on pressure and more on the significance of the occasion.
“This is our first time participating in the World Cup,” Shukurov said.
“We need to put all the pressure aside, go out there, enjoy the game, and show that Uzbekistan is a country with strong football.”
Young midfielder Umarali Rahmonaliyev, who plies his trade in Azerbaijan, said internal competition has become stronger than ever, with every player determined to secure a place in the final squad.
“Competition has always existed, but ahead of the World Cup it has become even more intense,” he said.
“That is why we will give everything we have, raise our country’s flag high, and show our potential on the world stage,” Rahmonaliyev concluded.
