The FIFA U-17 World Cup has officially kicked off in Qatar. The Uzbekistan national team will also participate in this competition and will begin their journey today with a match against Paraguay. Before this important match, the team's head coach, Islam Ismailov, shared his thoughts with journalists.
The coach emphasized that the team conducted the preparation process seriously and purposefully. "Our preparation was sufficient. Our guys are fully prepared for today's match. Paraguay is a very strong team - a leader on its continent. But we also prepared with all our might to be a worthy opponent for them," Ismailov said.
According to him, the team, together with the coaching staff, has thoroughly analyzed the Paraguay national team's games. "We have reviewed the opponent's last 10 matches. We studied their strengths and weaknesses. On this basis, we developed a tactical plan," he added.
The head coach also touched upon the mental state of the young players. "It's natural to be nervous before a big competition. As coaches, we are trying to get this excitement from the guys. They need to believe in themselves," Ismailov said.
He also commented on the hopes and expectations expressed by the fans. "After the success at the Asian Championship, many fans expect a good result at the World Championship as well. This is, of course, a source of pride for us, but at the same time, it can be excessive pressure for young people. Therefore, we are telling them that they need to be mentally free," he said.
The representatives of the Uzbekistan national team are in a fighting spirit and aim to worthily defend the honor of our country in the competition. The match will take place today at 18:00 Tashkent time at the "Espire" academy in Qatar.
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