On July 1, a ceremonial welcome-back event was held at Tashkent International Airport for the players of the Uzbekistan national football team following their return from the World Cup.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov praised the national team for "fighting courageously" against world-class opponents and urged the players to forgive "armchair experts." The prime minister was referring to those who had heavily criticized the national team on social media.
"You fought heroically against Portugal, ranked 5th in the FIFA world rankings, Colombia, ranked 13th, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose squad boasts numerous players competing in Europe and other top clubs around the world. Every attack, every defense, every shot, and every single moment of struggle brought excitement, hope, and pride to our nation," Aripov said.
"Dear players, because of your fame, there will always be failed athletes, pundits, and armchair experts trying to build fake reputations and chase 'likes' by leaving negative comments. Just forgive them, too," the head of government added.
To recap the tournament, the Uzbekistan national team lost 1–3 to Colombia, 0–5 to Portugal, and 1–3 to DR Congo, finishing at the bottom of their group. Uzbekistan's only two goals of the tournament were scored by Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Eldor Shomurodov.
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