The participation of the Uzbekistan national team in the 2026 World Cup and its clash with Portugal in the group stage are causing heated discussions in the football community. Many are particularly concerned about the tactics to choose against a team led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kazakh football commentator Yerbol Kairov gave a detailed assessment of the chances of Uzbekistan's players to advance from the group stage of the World Cup. In his opinion, in the match against Portugal, Uzbekistan must avoid open football.
"The main weapon against such teams is disciplined defense and patience. Playing openly against Portugal is not allowed. It's especially dangerous to leave empty space for players like Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leão. They immediately punish even a momentary loss of concentration," Kairov said.
According to the expert, Uzbekistan's first place in the group would be a sensational result. The fight for second place is very difficult, but theoretically, there is a possibility. For this, the Uzbeks must show maximum results in matches against the Colombia national team and an opponent who qualified for the World Cup through the playoffs. Most importantly, it is necessary not to "lose" the match against Portugal.
According to Kairov, the most realistic and practical goal is to compete for at least the third place in the group. If Uzbekistan reaches the playoffs as one of the top eight third-place teams, it will be a huge achievement. For this, scoring points in all three games, accumulating at least four points, and maintaining a consistent goal difference are crucial.
As a reminder, the Uzbekistan national team will play its World Cup debut match on June 18th in Mexico against Colombia. The second round match against Portugal, which fans are eagerly awaiting, is scheduled for June 23rd. The final group match will be against the national team that qualified for the playoffs on June 27th, with the final two matches taking place in the US.
In short, an easy group is not waiting for Uzbekistan. However, with proper tactics, discipline, and team spirit, it is possible to achieve a historic result at the World Cup.
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