The initial matches of the FIFA World Cup, hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, are proving to be full of a number of unexpected results and interesting events. Notably, none of the Asian national teams that have taken the field so far have suffered a defeat.
Among the continental representatives, the South Korean national team was the first to defeat the Czech Republic 2:1. Qatar, on the other hand, scored a goal in the final minutes of the match against Switzerland, securing a 1:1 draw.
Thus, the Asian teams have started the World Cup without defeat. Today, June 15, two more representatives of the continent — the Saudi Arabian and Iranian national teams — begin their participation.
In the early days of the tournament, some favorites also faced difficulties. In particular, Brazil played a 1:1 draw with Morocco. The match between Japan and the Netherlands also failed to determine a winner — 2:2. Germany, however, achieved a major victory over Curaçao with a score of 7:1, recording one of the most confident starts in the tournament.
So far, the competition in the groups is proving more intense than expected. The very first round has already shown that a number of teams are serious contenders for the playoffs.
Currently, the main attention of Uzbek football fans is focused on the Uzbekistan national team. The team, led by Fabio Cannavaro, is participating in the World Cup for the first time in its history.
The "White Wolves" will play their first match of the World Cup against the Colombia national team on June 17. The match will begin at 07:00 Tashkent time on June 18. The game will take place at the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Uzbekistan is placed in Group K, where it will face Colombia, Portugal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as opponents. Although experts assess Colombia and Portugal as group favorites, the successful performance in the qualification stage and the talented players in the squad provide reason to also highly evaluate Uzbekistan's opportunities.
The match against Colombia could be crucial for the subsequent fate in the group. A positive result would significantly increase Uzbekistan's chances of reaching the playoff stage.
The World Cup in its new format, featuring 48 teams, is already demonstrating high competition and intrigue. Morocco taking a point from Brazil, Japan's successful game against the Netherlands, and South Korea's victory show that there are no easy games left in the tournament, even for the favorites.
In such conditions, the Uzbekistan national team also has the opportunity to write its own page in World Cup history. This could be a historic event not only for Uzbek football but for all of Central Asian football.
