After a gritty display against the formidable Australia, India is set to face Uzbekistan in their second group match of the Asian Cup in Al Rayyan on Thursday. Their goal is to perform better than their opening game where they lost 0-2 to Australia, a title-contender, on January 14. Despite a strong attacking performance from Australia, Sunil Chhetri’s team managed to prevent a larger margin of defeat, especially in the first 50 minutes.

The defensive solidity displayed in the first half is something the Indian team aims to maintain against Uzbekistan. The Uzbeks, who drew 0-0 against Syria in their opening match, might be a bit disappointed, making them a less menacing opponent compared to Australia according to Chhetri. Uzbekistan is ranked 68th in the world, while India is ranked 102nd. Chhetri’s thoughts may provide insights into the Indian team’s game plan against Uzbekistan.

“Uzbekistan are not Australia, but they’re a good side nonetheless. So, it will be a big challenge in this game too,” said Chhetri who missed a scoring chance against Australia.

Chhetri had previously acknowledged that both Uzbekistan and Australia are at a World Cup level, but despite this, he and his team won’t be overly intimidated by the former, known as the ‘White Wolves,’ following their resilient performance against the Socceroos.

#BlueTigers 🐯take battle stations 🇮🇳against Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

Preview Report 👉🏼 https://t.co/RhJ8Iu901D#AsianCup2023 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/eqtqkZlwjq

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 17, 2024

Attempt To Play Attacking Football

Certainly, India won’t adopt an overly defensive approach against Uzbekistan. Instead, they intend to play their own style of football, pushing for counter-attacks with swift transitions. Players like Chhetri, Manvir Singh, and other forwards will likely be seeking opportunities, which were scarce in the match against Australia.

As always, Sandesh Jhingan will play a pivotal role in the deep defense. A true warrior on the field, Jhingan led a commendable defensive effort by the Indian team against Australia.

Despite sustaining cuts above each eyebrow, Jhingan continued to play with determination, sporting a bandaged forehead.

Uzbekistan has a noteworthy track record, having defeated teams such as China, Oman, and Bolivia, along with draws against strong opponents like Iran and Mexico over the past year. Currently, they hold the ninth position among Asian countries in the FIFA rankings.

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