Uzbekistan players during a training session.
Doha, Qatar: Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec has ruled out Sherzod Nasrullaev from his side’s meeting with Australia in Group B of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 while Socceroos striker Mitchell Duke will miss the game due to a hamstring injury.
Nasrullaev has not trained since his side’s 3-0 win over India in the previous round and, while Katanec confirmed the defender will not take part in today's meeting at Al Janoub Stadium, he remains confident his side will progress to the last 16.
A draw will be enough for Uzbekistan to confirm their place in the knockout rounds for the sixth AFC Asian Cup in a row, while the White Wolves could still progress as one of the best third-placed teams even if they were to lose.
Srecko Katanec
“I think there’s no pressure from my side, I try not to put pressure on the guys,” Katanec said of his team’s preparations for their final group game.
“We are probably 90 percent qualified, even if we lose.”
“From my point of view there’s no problems. We will try to do our game, we will try to win as always. If we will be successful, let’s see tomorrow. I never say in my life before the match to the players that we don’t want to win.”
Katanec believes his team will present a different challenge to the Australians after their wins over India and Syria and is wary of the Socceroos’ ability at set-pieces, where the height and presence of players such as Harry Souttar present a serious goal scoring threat.
“We saw Australia play in the first two matches and they played against two teams that normally defend very deep 20, 30 metres from their goal,” he said.
“We will try not to play like this.
“The Australia team can play in different ways, when they play - on paper - against stronger teams they’re organised well. They have their own qualities, they are very dangerous in standard situations, corners, free-kicks. We have to take care of this.”
Graham Arnold is expected to make changes to his starting line-up with Australia having confirmed their place in the last 16, and Duke will be among those missing after the Japan-based striker picked up a minor strain in the 1-0 win over Syria.
Graham Arnold
“We played Uzbekistan in 2019 and we beat them in a penalty shootout,” said Arnold.
“But I think both teams have improved enormously since then. And we’re looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
“They play a different way to the first two nations that we played, in India and Syria. They’ve invested a lot of money in football and, respect to Uzbekistan, they won the U20 Asian Cup and they’ve got very good under 23 side.
“They’re moving up the rankings in the world and in Asia. So, as a country, they’re improving all the time. But the main focus for us is ourselves, that we get our tactics right and our game plan right. The boys are fresh and ready to go.” AFC
Group B - Australia vs Uzbekistan
Advantage Australia: Australia have won both previous AFC Asian Cup meetings with Uzbekistan, including a penalty shootout victory in the 2019 Round of 16. However, this is set to be their first encounter in the group stage.
Winning run: Australia have won four consecutive group stage matches, their longest such streak in the AFC Asian Cup. They are looking to win all three games in the group stage in a single edition for the first time.
New record: Uzbekistan have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the AFC Asian Cup, having not kept a clean sheet in more consecutive such games.
Shoot on sight: Uzbekistan made 32 shots in their first two matches at Qatar 2023, only Australia had more (38) in Group B.
