For the first time in its history, Uzbek football has opened a new path for all Central Asian countries—the national team has earned a ticket to the World Cup. Among fans, this achievement is not only a source of pride but also a new trust and hope for the future, sharply changing the football atmosphere in the country. Even more interestingly, this historic success was achieved by a team and coaching staff who, at each stage, overcame unique obstacles and challenges, believed in great dreams, and worked tirelessly, writes transfermarkt.
57-year-old experienced assistant coach Ales Ceh, talking about all the problems and difficulties on this journey, and about the players and coaching staff who overcame them with patience and humility, said: "Frankly, I am still at a loss for words. After Uzbekistan reached the World Cup, I felt relief, pride, and absolute happiness."
First steps: From Europe to Uzbekistan
Sharing his experience, Ales Ceh notes that initially, he listened to the advice of Austrian friends, that finding a good job at home would have been easier, but the Uzbekistan project became a real challenge and an opportunity to make new history for him. "At first, some people did not believe it. But after we managed to implement this idea, today I feel even happier," he says.
Discipline, order, and a new spirit
According to the coach, at first, national team players had difficulty maintaining discipline. Usually, after training, they would go home and only return the next day. On Czech's initiative, discipline was tightened: phone use was limited, communication and cohesion in the dressing room were strengthened. "This was just the beginning. It was necessary to understand each other more and act as a single spirit on the field," says the coach.
In the team, especially, the forwards refused to help in defense, and defenders avoided joining the attack. Czech said this openly. Of course, this change in mentality was not easy. However, thanks to mutual trust and sincere conversations, everyone united around a common goal.
Tactical changes and “open nights”
Initially, the team played with four defenders. Over time, they switched to a three-defender scheme, conducted numerous video analyses, and many nights spent working yielded results. Czech and the coaching staff made it their main goal to combine the individual abilities of the players with team harmony.
"A different spirit appeared in the team, we felt this in every game," he says. For example, in the match against Kyrgyzstan, after falling behind twice, the team showed great willpower and character, winning 3:2. The guys always believed that they could create miracles and fought to turn dreams into reality.
The football environment in Uzbekistan and new stars
As Czech notes, while judo and boxing used to be the main sports, today stadiums are full of football fans, every national team match is watched by more than 30,000 spectators and millions on television. This, in turn, gave the players even greater motivation and enthusiasm.
Speaking about Eldor Shomurodov and Abdukodir Khusanov, Czech especially emphasized their modesty, simplicity, and responsibility as an example for young people. Now children are wearing not Messi or Ronaldo jerseys, but local stars’ jerseys, choosing football by looking up to them. "This is a new stage for Uzbek football," says the coach.
Teamwork and future plans
Ales Ceh said that a lot of work had been done to organize the team, prepare them mentally, strengthen discipline, and build trust. Structural changes, working individually with each player, and creating a team environment—all of this was ultimately rewarded with a World Cup ticket.
The coaching staff said they are going to the USA with a clear goal: "We want to advance from the group and show our game against any opponent—Germany, Brazil, or Argentina. We intend to represent Uzbekistan's name on the world stage with dignity."
Excitement, history, and the dream of the future
In 2026, the World Cup will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with 48 national teams participating. Besides the three hosts, Uzbekistan’s national team is among the 10 countries that qualified. This is not just football but a new source of motivation for the country and youth.
In conclusion, this historic success has opened an entirely new page not only for the national team but also for millions of football fans and modern Uzbek youth. The hard work of the players and coaches, the belief of the fans, the love that filled the stadiums, and the tears shed for the national team—all of this has become the country's pride today.
Our guys now have the opportunity to perform worthily at the World Cup, have gained new confidence, modern dreams, and a chance to write new history. Now all eyes are on the World Cup, the next challenge, and great victories! Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
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