With the growing popularity of football, Uzbekistan is participating in the World Cup for the first time and is taking to the field with the enthusiasm of coach Cannavaro and young players.
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Uzbekistan is participating in this World Cup for the first time. The team is not under pressure from the fans. Since qualifying for the World Cup, all the Uzbek players have been heroes. They are guided by Ballon d'Or winner and world champion Fabino Cannavaro. Uzbekistan will face Colombia in the first match on June 17. The match will be held in Mexico City.
Meanwhile, football is now growing in popularity in the Central Asian country. "We have been the best team in Asia lately. Not only the national team, but we are also champions in our age group," said 22-year-old supporter Abdusaid Ruzimatov during a friendly match in the capital Tashkent last month.
The Uzbek team, often called the "White Wolves," drew 30,000 spectators to the national stadium to watch their exhibition match. Uzbekistan has won the U-23, U-20 and U-17 Asian Cups. Similarly, the national team is also becoming a power in Asian football. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has given a new slogan, ‘New Uzbekistan’. Football is also moving forward with this.
The president is trying to make the former Soviet Union country free and liberal. It has been a decade since he came to power. He has welcomed foreign investment. He has stopped tightening the borders. He has tried to make the country known on the world stage. There is a solid reason behind Uzbekistan’s selection for this World Cup, the number of participating countries has increased from 32 to 48.
But this is not all. Because the level of football in Uzbekistan has really increased. Uzbekistan is currently in 50th place in the FIFA rankings. The government itself is investing in youth player production projects. Football development has been a decade-long government policy. Uzbekistan itself is a young country, because one-third of the 37 million population is under the age of 20.
Bekmord Khayadarov, a 57-year-old doctor from Tashkent, says, "The strongest point of our national team is defense. Cannavaro himself was a defender when he was a player. That's why he has put more emphasis on defense. I believe that it will not be easy to break our defense." He was appointed coach last year. Under his leadership, the team won the World Cup in 2006.
He did not say that this is Uzbekistan's goal for the next World Cup. He says, "Uzbekistan is playing the World Cup for the first time. So, don't put unnecessary pressure on the players." I think the whole country has given its players a chance to enjoy the World Cup.' Statistics agency Opta has given Uzbekistan a 12 percent chance of making it past the group stage and reaching the knockout stages.
Uzbekistan is 2000-1 to win the World Cup. If Uzbekistan wins the World Cup, it will be a sensational 'upset' result. Cannavaro has made the 2027 Asian Cup his main goal. He says, 'If we can do well in the next World Cup and gain strong experience, the challenge we will present in the Asian Cup will be strong.'
After Colombia, Uzbekistan will face Portugal and Congo. This is a Group 'K' match. The star player of the Uzbekistan team is defender Abdukodir Khusanov. He plays for Manchester City. Forward Eldor Somurodov and attacking midfielder Abobek Fayzulev both play in foreign leagues. The rest of the players play in lesser-known domestic leagues.
The government itself is happy with the World Cup qualifiers and the growing popularity of football. President Mirziyoyev said during a meeting with the players last month, “Our players are truly the heroes of the country. They have added a new chapter to the history of the country. They have brought happiness to the general public. The players have become an example worth following for the younger generation.”
