Uzbekistan

Ronaldo and Modric struggle to defy Father Time at World Cup

AgenciesCristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić Atlanta: Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will make history when two outfield players aged over 40 face off for the first time in a World Cup as Portugal take on Croatia in Friday's last-32 clash.But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burden than a boost to their countries' hopes of progressing far in the competition.Prior to this tournament, only Cameroon's Roger Milla had played in a World Cup as an outfield player after turning 40.Ronaldo and Modric, who won four Champions Leagues in six seasons together at Real Madrid, have long defied Father Time but have shown their age in what will almost certainly be their final flourish on the global stage.At 41, Ronaldo defiantly screamed "I'm back" after netting twice against Uzbekistan as he became the first player to ever score at six World Cups.Live EventsYet either side of a 5-0 romp over a team ranked 60th in the world, Portugal failed to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia and fell into a tougher section of the draw as a result."It's already 23 years I've been a professional and whenever things don't go well it's 'Cristiano, he's finished, he's old'," Ronaldo said earlier in the tournament.The forward played every minute of the group stages and outgoing Portugal boss Roberto Martinez shows no sign of taking the bold call to sit the five-time Ballon d'Or winner on the bench."There is not an issue physically or mentally for Cristiano in today's game to play the 90 minutes," Martinez said after Ronaldo managed just two touches in the Colombia box.Protecting Ronaldo's ego After a slow start to the World Cup four years ago, Ronaldo was eventually dropped by Fernando Santos in favour of Goncalo Ramos.The AC Milan striker immediately scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Switzerland, but a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals meant Ronaldo's time out of the side was short-lived and Santos was removed as coach.The impression that Martinez is wasting a richly talented generation just to protect Ronaldo's ego grows with every pedestrian performance.Portugal's depth of midfield talent meant Paris Saint-Germain's Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva, now of Real Madrid, started on the bench against Colombia.Yet even with one of the World Cup's strongest midfields behind him, Ronaldo's strikes against Uzbekistan are his only non-penalty goals in his past 14 games at major tournaments.Modric, 40, similarly showed his age in Croatia's tournament opener, which ended in a 4-2 defeat to England in Dallas.Caught on his heels, Modric conceded a penalty when chopping down Noni Madueke for England's opening goal and was sacrificed by Zlatko Dalic before the hour mark.Croatia bounced back to celebrate Modric's 200th cap, edging past Panama 1-0.In doing so, Modric became the fourth man to reach a double century of international appearances, joining Ronaldo.The AC Milan midfielder then provided the assist for Nikola Vlasic's winner as Croatia beat Ghana 2-1.Finalists in 2018, Croatia also reached the semi-finals four years ago.Modric was the driving force behind those incredible runs for a country of less than four million people.A likely last-16 meeting with Spain and one final shot at glory awaits the winners in Toronto.But for one of football's all-time greats, the World Cup curtain will come down in Canada.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onCristiano Ronaldo World CupLuka Modric World CupPortugal vs CroatiaFootball legends 40 yearsRonaldo Modric last World Cup (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onCristiano Ronaldo World CupLuka Modric World CupPortugal vs CroatiaFootball legends 40 yearsRonaldo Modric last World Cup Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition123View all Stories

2026-07-01

Cristiano Ronaldo's quiet night exposes Portugal's biggest World Cup problem

Three days ago, Cristiano Ronaldo was screaming "I'm back" into the television cameras after becoming the first footballer to score in six different World Cups. It felt like the perfect reminder that even at 41, football's greatest goalscorer could still bend the sport to his will.Saturday night in Miami told a very different story.There was no goal. No celebration. No iconic moment. Instead, Ronaldo spent much of the evening waving at teammates, pointing towards empty spaces and waiting for Portugal's attack to finally remember he was standing inside the Colombia penalty area.Colombia vs Portugal, FIFA World Cup 2026: HIGHLIGHTSIt never really happened.The Group K decider ended 0-0, with Colombia deservedly finishing top of the group after producing the better football for long spells. Portugal advanced as runners-up and will now face Croatia in the Round of 32, while Colombia earned a meeting with Ghana. Elsewhere, DR Congo completed a remarkable comeback from a goal down to beat Uzbekistan 3-1, claiming one of the best third-placed qualification spots and booking a last-32 clash with England in their first World Cup appearance since 1974.For Portugal, though, the result almost felt secondary.This was the first time at the tournament they came up against genuine elite opposition, and they looked worryingly ordinary.The scoreline suggests a hard-fought stalemate. The performance suggested something far more concerning.Portugal survived.And they only did so because Diogo Costa produced one of the finest goalkeeping displays of this World Cup, while Colombia somehow forgot where the goal was. Diogo Costa deserves full credit for Portugal surviving with a draw vs Colombia. (Photo: Reuters) The South Americans fired 24 shots to Portugal's 13, forced Costa into six saves and even thought they had snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner through Davinson Sanchez before VAR confirmed the defender had drifted offside.If Costa was Portugal's best player by some distance, their biggest disappointment was much further up the pitch.Because the only thing more wasteful than Colombia's finishing was Portugal's midfield.A MIDFIELD WITHOUT A MAPThis Portugal squad is overflowing with technical quality.Bruno Fernandes is one of Europe's finest creators. Vitinha controls matches for Paris Saint-Germain almost effortlessly. Ruben Neves brings composure and experience, while Joao Neves has emerged as one of the brightest young midfielders in world football. Add Joao Felix drifting between the lines and Pedro Neto stretching defences, and Portugal should have one of the most fluid attacking units in the tournament.Instead, they looked like strangers trying to solve a puzzle together.There was no rhythm to their passing. No obvious attacking patterns. No consistent movement between midfield and attack. Every possession seemed to begin with a player stopping, looking around and wondering where the next run was supposed to come from.Bruno Fernandes repeatedly dropped deeper in search of the ball because Portugal struggled to progress through midfield. Vitinha rarely managed to dictate the tempo. Ruben Neves recycled possession without ever truly speeding the game up, while Joao Felix floated in and out without becoming the creative link Ronaldo desperately needed. Bruno was yet again a no show against a top opposition. (Photo: Reuters) The most telling images of the night were not Colombia's chances.They were Ronaldo's reactions.The Portugal captain constantly spoke to his wingers, gestured towards teammates and pointed into spaces where he wanted crosses delivered. Time and again he drifted into dangerous positions only to watch Portugal recycle possession sideways instead.Against Uzbekistan, Portugal finally played to Ronaldo's greatest strength. They attacked wide areas relentlessly, delivered crosses early and allowed him to dominate the penalty box. Against Colombia, that blueprint disappeared.Ronaldo managed only a handful of efforts, most from poor positions, and spent more time chasing service than threatening Camilo Vargas' goal.That is not entirely on him.Portugal simply never looked like a team with a clear attacking identity.And that inevitably raises uncomfortable questions for Roberto Martinez. Was Roberto Martinez ever the right man for the Portugal job? (Photo: Reuters) Because this no longer feels like a one-off off day. Whenever Portugal have looked convincing under Martinez, it has often been because individual brilliance has carried them through. Against Colombia, when those moments failed to arrive, there was very little evidence of a tactical framework capable of taking over.It genuinely felt as though the players were deciding what to do after receiving the ball rather than executing a rehearsed plan.For a squad packed with this much talent, that should worry Portugal supporters.CROATIA WILL PUNISH THISThe good news for Portugal is that tournament football is often about surviving. Costa ensured they did exactly that.The Porto goalkeeper denied Jhon Cordoba after another dangerous Colombian break, produced outstanding saves from Jhon Arias, punched away dangerous deliveries under immense pressure and remained composed throughout a relentless Colombian barrage. Even when Davinson Sanchez finally headed home deep into stoppage time, the offside flag rescued Portugal before VAR confirmed the decision.Costa could stop almost everything.He just could not fix the football unfolding in front of him.To Colombia's frustration, they were almost as guilty as Portugal when it came to making the most of their opportunities. James Rodriguez once again dictated attacks beautifully before making way for Juan Quintero, Luis Diaz tormented Portugal whenever he found space, Jhon Arias constantly stretched the defence and Daniel Munoz made an immediate impact from the bench. Yet for all their excellent build-up play, the finishing touch never arrived.That wastefulness allowed Portugal to escape with second place. Can these Portugal's gather up their sense of attacking identity in time? (Photo: Reuters) Croatia, however, may not be so forgiving.A midfield featuring Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will ask even tougher questions than Colombia did, and if Portugal once again surrender control in the middle of the park, Ronaldo could spend another knockout game surviving on scraps.One subplot also quietly disappeared with the final whistle in Miami.Because Colombia topped Group K, Portugal slipped into the opposite side of the knockout bracket, ruling out what could have been a blockbuster Portugal vs Argentina quarter-final. It also means football fans hoping for a first-ever World Cup meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will now have to wait until the final, assuming both teams get there.On this evidence, though, Portugal have far bigger problems to solve before anyone starts dreaming about one last dance between football's two greatest rivals.FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News - EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Jun 28, 2026 07:57 IST

2026-06-28

'World Cup is brutal'

Uzbekistan manager Fabio Cannavaro knows all about the beauty of the World Cup, having led Italy to success as captain, but after seeing his side lose all three games and exit the tournament, he reminded people of his warning about how brutal it can be. Cannavaro's team came into Saturday's final Group K game on the back of defeats by Colombia and Portugal in which they conceded eight goals and his side fell to a 3-1 loss against Democratic Republic of Congo, who reached the knockout rounds. The Italian coach was asked why he was smiling after the 5-0 defeat by Portugal and again following the DR Congo loss. "You think I'm not nervous, I'm not angry? I don't feel good because I don't like to lose," Cannavaro told reporters. "We made some mistakes, of course, but I cannot complain about my players. I never will complain about my players because I know and I told you, you were in the press conference and you know what I said the first day when we saw the draw. "The World Cup is brutal. They gave everything? Yes. They are sad in the changing room. Wow, my friend, believe me. They suffer more than anyone in Uzbekistan." Captain Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan the lead in a World Cup match for the first time but, after holding out for over an hour, they conceded three goals late on. "In today's match the fear of winning crept in," Cannavaro said. "We went into the dressing room at halftime and when we came back out, I already told them, we needed to keep raising the tempo and keep our defensive line higher. "I told them how to play and what to do, because Congo were pushing their wing-backs onto our full-backs, which meant there was a lot of space to attack behind them. "Instead, we kept coming short to receive the ball with our backs to goal, and in matches like this, 99 times out of 100 you lose the ball that way." Cannavaro also had a message for the millions of Uzbekistan fans after their debut World Cup ended in disappointment. "We have to understand that Uzbekistan football needs to improve," he said. "Uzbekistan football needs to continue investing money in academies, investing money in youth players, because it's the only way to try to have Uzbekistan in the World Cup in the next 20-30 years."

2026-06-28

Michael Owen defends Cristiano Ronaldo with 'too easy' claim after World Cup struggles

Michael Owen has come to Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo's defence following the forward's display in Portugal's World Cup opener. Ronaldo failed to get on the scoresheet as his side were held to a 1-1 draw with DR Congo earlier this week. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves broke the deadlock for Portugal on Wednesday before Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa levelled things up before half-time. Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes of the Group K encounter, and the 41-year-old will be eager to help steer his nation to three points in their next outing against Uzbekistan on Tuesday evening. The Al Nassr star's display has sparked considerable debate, particularly after Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick for Argentina 24 hours earlier in their 3-0 victory over Algeria. Now, Owen has stepped in to defend Ronaldo and outlined what Portugal must do to unlock the best from the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, alongside a prediction for the country's upcoming clash with Uzbekistan. "It did not help Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick the night before Portugal played, but I’m not having the criticism of him.," Owen stated in the Daily Mail . "Portugal weren’t great in their 1-1 draw with DR Congo and a lot of the fallout has been around Ronaldo and him being a problem for them. "But hasn’t he always played like this, to a degree? He has never been a player, especially in recent years, who involves himself in the game. He will be there for the big moments, though. If he’s not scoring, it’s too easy to blame Ronaldo. At 41, he is going to be questioned. FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page "But how many times has this happened and he’s shut everyone up in the next game? If you’re picking Ronaldo then you have to accept what he is there for - and I wouldn’t be surprised if he responds with a hat-trick of his own against Uzbekistan." Following the stalemate with DR Congo, Ronaldo took to social media to deliver a pointed message to Portugal supporters ahead of the rest of their World Cup campaign. "Not the start we wanted, but this is far from over," Ronaldo posted on Instagram earlier this week. "Head up and focus on the next game." After facing Uzbekistan, Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates will then take on Colombia on Saturday night in their concluding World Cup group stage match. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by _ signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

2026-06-21

Colombia squeeze past dogged Uzbekistan to open World Cup campaign with victory

Some very good things have come from Croydon, the often overlooked town in south London. The film director David Lean was born there, as were Roy Hodgson, the actor Peggy Ashcroft and the sexologist Havelock Ellis. Amy Winehouse studied in Croydon. The Bill and Peep Show were filmed there, as was the title sequence of the 1970s and 80s sitcom Terry and June. For a long time it was a centre of brewing and leather production. It was on a suburban driveway there that Pickles found the Jules Rimet trophy after it had been stolen in 1966. And on Wednesday, Croydon proved the crucible of Colombia’s victory over Uzbekistan. Daniel Muñoz’s brilliant strike, created by Luis Díaz, set Colombia on their way to a win that should never have been as edgy as it was. But his Crystal Palace teammate Jefferson Lerma was a key figure in the centre of midfield, a controlling figure in Colombia’s domination of the majority of the game. “I’m living out my childhood dream of playing in a World Cup for my national team and for my country,” said a delighted Díaz after being named man of the match. “And what could be more beautiful than contributing with a goal and an assist?” It was a game desperately in need of something special. In Lean’s greatest film, Lawrence of Arabia undertook an arduous trek across the Nefud Desert to lead an attack on Aqaba, but even he may have baulked at the journey those travelling to the Azteca had to undertake from central Mexico City. Heavy rain led to huge puddles and numerous crashes. The verges alongside the Anillo Periférico were dotted with battered vehicles. For the final two or three miles the roads were lined with a ragged procession of fans who had abandoned their buses and taxis to walk. A trip that should have lasted just over an hour took more than four. Magnificent the Azteca may be, but it is not a modern football ground. Chaos swirls around it; nothing there really works. For 40 minutes, other than some lusty singing from the stands, there was not much to justify the effort. Reflecting that this was the first game in World Cup finals history to feature a double-landlocked country could sustain the interest only so far, even given the curiosity that they were facing a double-coasted country. But then came the goal. Uzbekistan’s defensive line seemed deep enough that there was no danger behind it, but Díaz measured a precise pass into the space where Muñoz swooped on to it from the right. It was an extremely difficult finish but the full-back, somehow, leaping with right leg fully extended, jabbed a toe at the ball and volleyed past Utkir Yusupov. “We knew the first game wasn’t going to be easy,” said the Colombia manager, Néstor Lorenzo. “We could have scored and built a bigger lead, but our opponents played well; they’re a very compact team and it was difficult for us to get through. We need to finish off our moves. We had a lot of possession but didn’t create crosses or shots on goal; we need to improve that.” This was at least as much of a home match for Colombia as the opening game had been for Mexico. The stadium was a bowl of yellow – although the team wore a greenish turquoise – broken only by a white splodge behind one goal of perhaps 100 white-wigged Uzbekistan fans, whose enthusiastic drummer ensured they could be heard above the Colombian din. The game soon settled into a pattern of attack against defence. Uzbekistan had kept seven clean sheets in 10 games in the third round of Asian qualifying, and it was easy to see how, their notional 3-4-2-1 often resembling a 5-4-1 with two banks sitting deep and the centre-forward Eldor Shomurodov doing a lot of chasing. “We need to improve,” said the Uzbekistan manager, Fabio Cannavaro. “Beating Colombia and Portugal will be difficult. But today we stayed in the game until the end and the team knew when to weather the pressure and when to counter them through possession.” Although Colombia are not short of creative talent, this is not the side of 2014. Early on, there was a lot of sideways passing, but they improved after the hydration break to hit the post through Díaz. The second half was rather livelier, as Uzbekistan found an equaliser just after the hour. The young Istanbul Basaksehir forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodded in from close range after Shomurodov’s volley had been deflected on to a post by the thighs of the Colombia goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas. A mood of anxiety settled over the stadium, but it lasted only five minutes before Colombia retook the lead. Shomurodov was dispossessed, Colombia swept forward and Gustavo Puerta laid on Díaz to score with a shot that squirmed through Yusupov’s hands. Colombia then dropped deep, though, inviting Uzbekistan on to them and they were under pressure when Jaminton Campaz made the game safe in added time, heading in after tenacious work by Juan Camilo Hernández. With the Democratic Republic of the Congo holding Portugal to a draw, victory puts Colombia in charge of the group, although a proper assessment of how good they are will have to wait until they play a side prepared to do more than simply absorb pressure.

2026-06-18

Ronaldo as excited for sixth World Cup as his first, says Martinez

Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his sixth World Cup as if it was his first, said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez as he hailed the 41-year-old as "an example and a reference for football." Armed with a richly talented generation, Portugal are among the favourites to win the World Cup for the first time. Ronaldo's continued presence in Martinez's team has sparked debate over whether he is still a positive influence. No one can match the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's 143 international goals. But he has failed to net in his last nine matches at major tournaments and offers little in a defensive role when the opposition are in possession. Martinez, though, has no doubt he remains Portugal's best option up front. "He is an example and a reference for football. For all those children on the street who begin to feel the love for sport, following the example of Cristiano Ronaldo is wonderful," Martinez told a press conference ahead of Portugal's World Cup opener against DR Congo. "It is his sixth World Cup, but I can say that internally it seems to be his first World Cup in terms of intensity, in terms of emotional output, of how important it is for him to be prepared to lead the group. "Within the team he is a vital player because he is the finisher, he is the player in the penalty area, he is the player who has those movements that can open spaces for other players. Within our attacking game, his numbers reflect the importance he has." Bruno Fernandes said his first experience of a major tournament as a child came on home soil, when a 19-year-old Ronaldo helped Portugal reach the final of Euro 2004. "All of us in this national team we have grown up watching Cristiano Ronaldo play and for us it's such an honour to play next to him now in the same team," said the Manchester United captain. "We're all here to support him and to support Portugal to go as far as possible." 'DREAMING NOT FORBIDDEN' Fresh from winning Premier League player of the year accolades, Fernandes is part of one of the strongest midfields in the World Cup. Vitinha and Joao Neves have recently won a second consecutive Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, while Bernardo Silva is set to join Real Madrid after a trophy-laden nine years at Manchester City. "We have a very strong team, great individual quality, and beyond the individual quality and the strengths that we have as individual players, I think we are a very cohesive team, a very united team," added Fernandes. "Obviously our dream is to be there (winning the World Cup) and I think that dreaming is not forbidden." Portugal will also face tournament debutants Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K. Martinez, though, warned against looking beyond DR Congo after the shock Spain suffered in being held 0-0 by Cape Verde in their opening match. "We've got very little to win tomorrow from the outside. If you win against Congo, it's expected. If you win by one, it's a big problem. If you draw, it's a catastrophe. If you lose, this is the end of the world," said the Spaniard. "They come with no expectations, they are enjoying being here. We've seen incredible performances from teams like Qatar, Cape Verde, exemplary performances, that shows you that there are no easy games in a World Cup." Martinez also confirmed reports he is set to leave his role after the World Cup when his contract expires. "My contract ends after the World Cup. This is not news, this is just a fact," he added. "We're now focused on finishing the work that we've begun three-and-a-half years ago. "When I came to Portugal the focus was to try to win everything, but most importantly to prepare for the World Cup." -------------------------------- Where to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Fans can watch every FIFA World Cup 2026™ match live on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access. All matches are also available to stream on supported packages, ensuring flexible viewing options wherever you are. How to stream the FIFA World Cup 2026™ With DStv Stream, you can follow every match anytime, anywhere. Download the app and enjoy seamless live streaming on the go. GET DStv | START STREAMING

2026-06-17

Jordan and Uzbekistan ready to crash World Cup party and take on giants

Before eagerly awaited meetings with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo comes slightly less glamorous but hugely important first ever World Cup games for Asia’s debutants. Jordan take on Austria on Wednesday before meeting Algeria and Argentina, while Uzbekistan kick off against Colombia, then Portugal and DR Congo. Jordan v Austria has been used as an example of a game that will challenge Fifa’s dynamic pricing system but regardless of how full the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is, the cafes in Amman’s Prince Muhammad Street and all around the country will be packed. They were a year ago, as fans watched Portugal beat Spain in the Uefa Nations League final, three days after the World Cup spot had been secured with the city still buzzing with the thought of Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) taking on the superstars of the world and … here they are. But while Jordan may be more about team spirit, organisation and counterattacking, they have stars of their own. In the days after qualification, the faces of the big three forwards featured on billboards everywhere you looked, though they have had differing fortunes since. The talismanic striker Yazan al-Naimat is out after a cruciate ligament injury in December and while Ali Olwan, who scored all three in a win over Oman that sealed the World Cup spot, has not played competitively since February, he should be fit to start. Musa al-Taamari, a softly-spoken baker’s son from Amman, is the main man and is used to that role as a rare Jordanian export to Europe, where the fast and hard-working winger has had a fine second season for Rennes. Odeh Fakhoury should start in attack in the absence of Naimat, the 20-year-old scoring his first international goal on 31 May against Switzerland. That was, however, in a 4-1 defeat and was followed by a 2-0 loss to Colombia in San Diego, so there is some concern. The head coach, Jamal Sellami, a firm proponent of 3-4-3, said it was all part of the learning process and the former international goalkeeper Amer Shafi agrees with the taciturn tactician from Morocco. “There is no cause for concern,” said Shafi, who made 179 international appearances for Jordan. “One of the best things about them is losing in order to learn from mistakes and go into the competitive games with sufficient knowledge of the team’s strengths and weaknesses.” Shafi added that he expects Jordan to reach the knockout stage. Jordan are ready for a physical battle and would not have minded taking on their Alpine opponents in hotter and more humid conditions than Silicon Valley can offer. Football is played hard in the country which does not have the riches of some of the neighbours. This team dug deep to get to the final of the 2023 Asian Cup, outclassing South Korea in the semi-final. A repeat of that performance and the cafes of Amman will have a bumper day. And the plov restaurants of Tashkent could enjoy something similar even if it will be breakfast time when Uzbekistan take on Colombia in Mexico City. Asia’s other debutants brought in Fabio Cannavaro as manager soon after sealing their spot. His coaching career is not anything to write back to Naples about, but he did captain his nation to the 2006 World Cup win before returning in 2010 with a dismal first-round exit. Nobody in Central Asia expects the former but a good start and fears of the latter will recede. Like Jordan, Uzbekistan rarely face non-Asian opposition but do have a squad with European experience. Much attention will be on the Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov but there is talent in Abbosbek Fayzullaev, a winger who fought homesickness to go to CSKA Moscow as a teenager before the lack of international football on offer brought a move to Turkey. A good tournament this time could see the 22-year-old move farther west. Since qualifying behind Iran, Uzbekistan have lost 2-1 to Uruguay but defeated Gabon and Egypt before final warm-up defeats to Canada and the Netherlands. The latter came thanks to two penalties from Cody Gakpo with the Liverpool forward scoring the winner in the 99th minute, not long after Uzbekistan had equalised to achieve what they thought was going to be a morale-boosting result. It was an important lesson about concentration and focus. Underestimating the White Wolves would, however, be a mistake. “Uzbeks are tough: people who fight, who never give up,” Cannavaro says. “Playing against them is a pain in the arse. We played Uruguay: we had nine injured players, they weren’t at their best, but my players are tough. It’s not easy to play against them and we only lost 2-1.” The veteran midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov has a back problem but excitement and optimism remain high. More than Jordan, perhaps, there is a confidence that whatever happens in the next few weeks, this is just the beginning for the former Soviet republic. The rise of Uzbekistan in Asia after independence in 1991 has been fascinating, if little noticed outside. Repeated near misses at the World Cup brought a label of Asia’s chokers but also resulted in investment. Trophies at youth level are translating into senior success. “[It] has not come overnight, and we have produced consistent results over a number of years to emerge as one of the leading Asian football nations,” Otabek Umarov, the first vice-president of Uzbekistan’s Olympic committee, says. “People abroad might not realise, but as the first country from central Asia to qualify for the World Cup, this will be a moment where the entire nation stops to cheer on our heroes.” As it is in Tashkent, so it will be in Amman.

2026-06-16