Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov and forward Igor Sergeev reflected on the national team's debut FIFA World Cup campaign after Uzbekistan concluded the group stage with a 3-1 defeat to DR Congo.
Uzbekistan made its first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup but finished the tournament without a point, losing 3-1 to Colombia, 5-0 to Portugal, and 3-1 to DR Congo.
Against DR Congo, Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan the lead in the 10th minute with a chipped finish from a tight angle. He had also found the net in the opening minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Commenting after the match, Shomurodov said the goal carried personal significance despite the result.
"It was a beautiful goal, but it didn't help us. We gained a lot of experience. It's a shame we couldn't win at least one game. But life goes on. Now we have something to strive for, and we'll know it all."
Asked about his emotions after Uzbekistan's first World Cup appearance, he said: "It's hard to explain. We've participated in the World Cup, but there's still a little bit of a feeling that we could have done something.
Shomurodov said the team needed improvement in multiple aspects of its game rather than one specific area.
"I think a lot was missing. You can't pinpoint just one thing; a lot was missing. And here, it's still a different level, everything is different. If you can't be better at one thing, you have to be better at everything. So we need to improve everything. We have room to grow."
Reflecting on the second half against DR Congo, he said Uzbekistan could have managed the game more effectively after taking the lead.
"They [pushed forward] in the second half, too; they needed the win. They started attacking. We could have held the match better. But that's what I'm talking about: if you press well but don't have the ball, they'll punish you. We need to improve everything. It's more about experience—when you see a different tempo, different players, and how they play. We have a lot to learn."
Comparing opponents from different confederations, Shomurodov said the challenge extended beyond physical attributes.
"They're physically stronger, yes. But anyone who's played in Europe knows that they're physically stronger in Europe, and their quality is also on a different level. That's why they're not inferior physically. And when they defend with ten men, it's still hard for them to score goals; you can't push them through. So you have to not only play and defend, but also attack and keep the ball."
The captain said the squad entered the tournament believing it could compete despite facing strong opponents.
"When you go to the World Cup, when you play against teams like Colombia and Portugal, of course, there's a positive feeling inside—we can achieve something. But on the field, it's different. It's a different level. We did what we could."
He also described the tournament as an important milestone for Uzbek football.
"This is a great experience for us. I think Uzbek football, and Uzbekistan in particular, has gained a lot. Our young talented players were also being watched, and more players can now go to Europe and prove themselves."
Looking ahead, Shomurodov said preparations for future competitions had already begun.
"Preparations begin today. We'll try to perform better at the Asian Championship and compete for medals."
He also agreed with head coach Fabio Cannavaro's assessment that the team relied too heavily on long passes in the second half against DR Congo.
"Of course. It's also a psychological issue: when you're winning, you still want to keep the score and not concede. That's why mistakes start to happen. We made mistakes—we didn't hold the ball well, and I think that's why they punished us." Speaking about his World Cup goal, Shomurodov said: "It's still important to me. You'll still remember: I scored a goal at the World Cup. But if we had won, it would have been even better. Then it would have been the goal that brought victory."
He also revealed that following the defeat to Portugal he did not exchange shirts with opposing players. Forward Igor Sergeev also described the tournament as an important learning experience despite the results.
"Despite the result, we're certainly happy to be here. The result certainly dampened our spirits, but on the other hand, we're moving on. I think the coaching staff and the guys saw this level too. We'll work on our mistakes and move forward. Let's keep going."
Sergeev said he encouraged his teammates to remain focused on future objectives.
"I told the guys, and I told them now: don't lose heart. Yes, it hurts, yes, it's unpleasant. I agree, everyone agrees: us, our families, and the whole country. But we're moving forward, working, and not giving up. I think we'll work two or three times harder."
He declined to disclose Fabio Cannavaro's post-match message to the players, saying it should remain within the team.
"Let's keep this within the team. He had his own experiences, too. He said things that, I think, should be kept in the locker room."
Sergeev said the players were aware of the quality of the teams they would face before the tournament began.
"We're not kids either, we knew the opponents were serious, top teams—Portugal, Colombia, even Congo. For some reason, everyone wrote them off, but we watched the video. The team is fine. We had high expectations—to at least get out of the group. It turned out the way it did."
Addressing possible criticism following three defeats, he said the national team had previously experienced difficult periods but now receives broader public support.
"There's still a large number of people who support us, even though we're losing. It's already good that we've qualified for the World Cup for the first time in history. This is a huge boost of positivity for the people, for those who aren't football fans, don't watch football every time, and don't know the inner workings of football."
Sergeev also reflected on the experience of playing before large crowds during the tournament.
"From the first game, when we played against Colombia, even though 90% of the fans were for Colombia—80,000 of them. When they're shouting, it's such an atmosphere. I think the guys felt that moment too. And in the second game against Cristiano."
He acknowledged the heavy defeat to Portugal but said the team should focus on the lessons from the tournament.
"Five is a lot. But those who want to see the negative will always find it. Those who want to see the positive will always find it. Yes, we lost, but a bad experience is still an experience. We can learn from it, and we need to move on."
Looking ahead, Sergeev said Uzbekistan's objective should be to qualify consistently for future World Cups rather than treating the 2026 tournament as a one-time achievement.
"We didn't show what we're capable of at this World Cup. We made mistakes. Now we need to strive to qualify for the next one, to prove that we didn't just come here once by chance, but to consistently qualify each time. Then, we'll strive to consistently qualify from the group."
