After a resolute Indian defensive show was damaged down by the Aussies of their opener of the AFC Asian Cup, coach Igor Stimac will want that very same tenacity proven within the first half, along with just a few attacking inputs from his gamers, as India takes on Uzbekistan of their second Group B encounter. A loss would imply exiting yet one more Asian Cup on the group phases, a draw would go away them on the behest of different outcomes and solely a win can maintain their hopes of shifting onto the Spherical-of-16 alive.
If Australia is a tricky group to beat in Asia, Uzbekistan is not any completely different. Ranked 68th on the earth, the Uzbeks are age group wizards on the Asian soccer stage, exhibiting their finest from the U17-U23 ranges and solely normally succumb at AFC-level tournaments to the likes of Japan. Their senior nationwide group narrowly misplaced to Australia within the earlier Asian Cup on penalties and lots of imagine that the central Asian giants will occupy one of many eight slots that the continent has for the 2026 World Cup.
India would have discovered the going powerful in opposition to the Uzbeks as it’s, however their opponents’ opening goalless draw to Syria has put strain on their backs to get a optimistic consequence, with their final group sport being in opposition to Australia. The one attainable silver lining for India is that identical to there are lacking 4 essential gamers who make the backbone of the group, Uzbekistan are lacking their star striker in Eldor Shomurodov.
#BlueTigers 🐯take battle stations 🇮🇳in opposition to Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
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— Indian Soccer Crew (@IndianFootball) January 17, 2024
Within the first half in opposition to Australia, India was in a position to mount a profitable defensive block which might cross the ball out to the flanks with a purpose to discover a manner out of their very own half. In opposition to Uzbekistan, that technique must be utilized in a way more environment friendly method.
“We’re on the lookout for extra attacking-minded gamers as a result of, after analysing the sport in opposition to Australia, I felt we had many conditions the place we might, as a substitute of simply kicking the ball ahead, we might discover three gamers in entrance of us on the flanks. I used to be not glad as a result of there was no intention to do this within the second half,” Stimac mentioned on the pre-match press convention on Wednesday.
Below Stimac India has various of their type of play. Sure, the Croat has proven how the nationwide group generally is a great-looking soccer group, however has additionally held again on the reins in opposition to higher opposition. In opposition to Uzbekistan, he’ll as soon as once more look in the direction of his defence to carry the fort down. Each Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke had 4 blocks every in that sport and India had a mixed 12 – twice as many because the remaining three groups of their group had mixed (6).
Run #BlueTigers run! ⚡🐯#AsianCup2023 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/B5e4mGLUx0
— Indian Soccer Crew (@IndianFootball) January 16, 2024
Whereas in opposition to Australia, India couldn’t do a lot however maintain on to pricey life. In opposition to Uzbekistan although, there aren’t many choices however to play the expansive type of soccer that India had adopted over the previous 12 months, with three trophies gained at residence and an important win in opposition to Kuwait within the World Cup qualifiers on the highway.
“We will anticipate a high-pressing sport from the very first minute. We have to discover a approach to deal with that. However our boys are excited and glad for an additional alternative forward of us,” Stimac mentioned on the pre-match press convention.
It might imply the return of gamers like left-back Akash Mishra and midfielder Mahesh Naorem – two gamers who’ve been India’s lifeblood of the artistic forces on the left flank and whose mixture play on that facet noticed a few of India’s best-looking objectives come throughout these three residence trophy wins.