Cannavaro: 'Cristiano Ronaldo scores in all possible ways'

Uzbekistan's head coach, Fabio Cannavaro, recognizes the immense threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their World Cup encounter with Portugal. The Italian legend described Ronaldo as "one of the best of all time," emphasizing his unparalleled ability to score from any situation. "We cannot focus only on Cristiano, we know he is one of the best ever, but Portugal has many good players," Cannavaro stated during a press conference in Houston.

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We cannot focus only on Cristiano, we know he is one of the best of all time, but Portugal has many good players. You can't leave him alone, we have to be very focused on him, because Cristiano scores in all possible ways, even from corners.

Cannavaro highlighted the tactical challenge of marking Ronaldo, noting that "he scores in all possible ways, even from corners." He stressed the importance of concentration and teamwork for Uzbekistan to counter Portugal's star forward. Despite acknowledging Portugal's formidable midfield and Ronaldo's historical prowess, Cannavaro urged his team to play without fear from the opening whistle.

Uzbekistan enters the match following a 1-3 defeat to Colombia, while Portugal is coming off a less convincing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cannavaro admitted that facing Portugal evokes a sense of apprehension due to their quality across the squad, particularly in midfield and attack.

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When it's Portugal, you feel fear, because they have the best midfield in the world, one of the best strikers in the history of football, but we have to play the game, work as a team, it's the only way to leave here with a result. We will try not to be afraid, to play from the first minute.

Reflecting on his own World Cup experience, Cannavaro, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, drew a contrast between playing and managing. "Playing a World Cup as a player is different because you experience it on an individual level. As a coach, it is very complicated because you have to study a lot, you have to talk," he said. He added that the demands of management leave little time for emotional reflection, expressing a hope to simply enjoy the spectacle of the tournament.

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Playing a World Cup as a player is different because you experience it on an individual level. As a coach, it is very complicated because you have to study a lot, you have to talk, I haven't had time to get emotional, I hope to enjoy the spectacle.