Time for more attacking impetus against Uzbekistan

AFTER a spirited fight against Australia, the Indian football team will be looking for more of the same when they take on Uzbekistan in their second game of the 2023 Asian Cup at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in AI Rayyan on Thursday.

- VISHNU PRASAD

In many ways, the challenge against Uzbekistan will be an extension of the one that the Blue Tigers faced against Australia. Their ranking of 68 may not be reflective of their true standard as Uzbekistan had the quality to hold the likes of Iran and Mexico over the last few months. Their first game against Syria may have ended in a draw but that was only because the latter did not have the same momentary lapses of concentration that India suffered in the second half against Australia. In many ways, that match played out quite similarly to the India-Australia game. Uzbekistan dominated possession and unleashed wave after wave of attack, while Syria struggled to get out of their half. Yet some dogged defending by the underdogs meant that not too many chances were created.