Following the 2-1 victory against Uzbekistan in the second round of the U-17 World Cup group stage, Ireland's head coach, Colin O'Brien, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and shared his thoughts with the fans.
"This victory is very important for me and the guys. Today we felt a real football atmosphere. The Uzbekistan national team is among the strongest teams in Asia, such as South Korea and Japan, which have been developing rapidly in recent years. Their playing style is dynamic, their attacks are dangerous, and they are very fast in counter-punches," said O'Brien.
The specialist noted that at certain moments of the game, the Irish players had to defend patiently. Despite conceding a goal in the first half, the team was not demoralized and remained committed to the plan. "Our guys moved in a clear direction, not just the result, but the stability in the game was important. "We saw the possibility of organizing an attack from the left flank, and Gradi's precise action helped equalize the result," he added.
In the second half, the Irish took the lead, securing the victory with a precise shot from Michael Nunan. "In this game, we demonstrated not only victory, but also team spirit. I highly appreciate the discipline and enthusiasm in the game," said O'Brien.
The head coach also emphasized that the competition is not yet over and the match against Paraguay will be decisive: "Nothing has been decided yet. There is an important game ahead. We will not give in to excessive joy and will continue preparing in this spirit. This will be a great experience for the guys and an important school for the future."
According to O'Brien, the match against the Uzbekistan national team was a serious test not only technically, but also mentally. He believes that facing such opponents is a valuable experience for young players.
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