Uzbekistan to face Kuwait today under new head coach Fabio Cannavaro

Ahead of the game, Fabio Cannavaro spoke at a press conference, discussing his collaboration with Temur Kapadze and noting that they share similar football philosophies.

Speaking to reporters, Cannavaro emphasized that his team would not play purely defensive football.

“Every match is difficult – both during my playing career and now as a coach. You can never step onto the pitch unprepared. That’s why I always tell my players to be as ready as possible, even for friendly matches.

“For these two games (with Kuwait and Uruguay – ed.), we will use only the players called up for this camp. I support attacking football, but that doesn’t mean we’ll attack non-stop for 90 minutes.

“Even though I didn’t select some of these players myself, the ones here are currently in the best shape. Together with my coaching staff, we’ll discuss the match plan and talk to the players today. Those who are ready will definitely take the field,” Cannavaro said, as quoted by the Uzbekistan Football Association’s press service.

The Italian coach also spoke about working with the team’s former head coach, now his assistant, Temur Kapadze.

“I’ve reviewed all the matches and recommended calling up Turgunboev and Eshmurodov to the squad. Representing the national team is every player’s dream. Unfortunately, two of our players have picked up injuries.

“Of course, Temur Kapadze is working closely with us – we start together at nine in the morning and finish around ten at night. Our football philosophies are quite similar, and he has great experience in Uzbek football. I have no problem working with local specialists, and we might even add more Uzbek coaches to the staff.

“Tactical formations are just numbers. Playing with three central defenders may look defensive, but in fact, it helps us transition to attack more quickly. What matters most to me is how well the 11 players on the field understand each other.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with great coaches and learned a lot from them,” Cannavaro added.

Information about the injured players will be announced later.

The Uzbekistan national team will play two friendly matches during the October training camp – against Kuwait in Tashkent on October 9 and against Uruguay in Malaysia on October 13. The team may also participate in an international tournament in Dubai in November.