Uzbekistan national team striker Eldor Shomurodov shared his thoughts after the friendly match against Uruguay. The experienced forward admitted that the opponent was strong and emphasized that the team still has a lot of work to do under the new coach.
“As expected, it was a tough match. In the first 15–20 minutes of the second half, we lost focus a bit, and the opponent punished us. Overall, we didn’t play badly. Of course, there are some shortcomings, and we must work on them. With the new coach, we still have a lot to improve,” Shomurodov said after the match.
When asked about the team’s physical condition, the striker noted that they hadn’t had enough time to recover after the trip.
“First of all, there were changes in the lineup, which also had an impact. It might sound like an excuse, but we arrived only two days before the match. We didn’t fully recover after the previous game and had only one complete training session yesterday,” he explained.
Shomurodov also commented on the new tactical setup under Fabio Cannavaro.
“The game scheme didn’t change drastically. For example, Aziz Ganiev played today on the right flank, which is not his usual position. It wasn’t very comfortable for him, but he gave his best and didn’t play badly. That was the coach’s decision,” Eldor said.
According to the forward, the opponent showed its real strength, but the pitch conditions affected the quality of the game.
“The condition of the field wasn’t ideal either. On such a pitch, both teams’ strengths become more equal,” Shomurodov added.
Eldor stated that this match was an important experience for the team. Playing against a strong opponent like Uruguay helped the team identify its weaknesses and better prepare for upcoming competitions.
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