The 17th Asian Football Championship is entering the decisive phase. For the first time in the United Arab Emirates not 16, but 24 teams participate. The group phase was completed last Thursday and on Sunday started the KO phase with the first knockout round first leg. On Monday, the defending champion will be back in action, Australia meets Uzbekistan!
The Soccerroos from Down Under had a lot of trouble in the preliminary round and battled for a knockout defeat in the KO phase. The quality in the squad, however, is extremely high and the team of head coach Graham Arnold is not in vain again as one of the big favorites for winning the title at the Asian Cup. Uzbekistan is still a small number in world football, but the current number 95 in the FIFA World Ranking is considered a “sleeping giant”. Uzbekistan is prediction to have a great future, but the Uzbeks are clearly outsiders in this round of 16. Odds of 1.70 are offered for a win against Uzbekistan by Australia. The game starts on Monday at 3 pm Central European Time.
Australia at the Asia Cup is not due to a lack of geography knowledge, but the Socceroos decided several years ago (in 2005) to join the Asian association. The level is much higher and the national team is much more demanding. A correct decision, because double-digit wins are a thing of the past. Four years ago, the Socceroos celebrated at the Asian Cup in front of home audience the title win. In the final South Korea was defeated in extra time 2-1.
After the preliminary round-out at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the short term of Bert van Marwijk was already over and instead of relying on a foreign coach, Graham Arnold was again a local coach committed. The 55-year-old is an old hand at the Australian Federation and worked in various capacities from 2000 to 2009.
The poor performance in the first group match against Jordan was probably a wake-up call at the right time. In the 0-1 draw with Jordan, Australia was not very creative in the game forward. Against Underdog Palestine the duty was fulfilled sovereign and after a few minutes the defending champion was already 2-0 in the lead. Due to the 3-0 victory, the course was still set to knockout eighth. Against Syria (who fired the coach after the second group match) was expected a nervous game. Celtic legionary Tom Rogic scored in the 93rd minute, the winning goal and thus fixed the second group place. Particularly noteworthy was the Rogic hit, as he played with a broken hand and should actually pause. Football is Australia still up, but the will to win is clearly felt. The quality in the squad is higher in Australia and thanks to the irrepressible will to win in the match between Australia and Uzbekistan, the tip on the win in the title quite understandable.
Expected deployment of Australia:
Ryan – Behich, Degenek, Milligan, Grant – Irvine, Rogic, Mabil – Maclaren
Already after the first two games Uzbekistan stood firmly in the last sixteen of this year’s Asian Cup. The last group match against the big favorites Japan decided only about group victory or second place. Both coaches have rotated a lot in this game. A decision that was absolutely necessary, as Uzbekistan had two days less rest after the last group match than the upcoming opponent. Despite a lead by Eldor Shomurov Uzbekistan had narrowly beaten the big favorites. A defeat, which was undoubtedly to cope.
A look at the Uzbek squad usually leaves many question marks. In the 23-man squad of the current number 95 of the FIFA World Ranking, no known name can be found. The most famous name among the Asians has taken place on the coaching bench. Coach veteran Hector Cuper, who led Valencia 2000 and 2001 in the Champions League final, has been responsible for the Uzbekistan national team since August 2018. The nickname “Sleeping Giant” is quite true in Uzbekistan. For many years, the focus has been on the offspring and in the U17 and U20, the national team has already participated in World Championships. The promotion of young talent is absolutely exemplary and in the near future Uzbekistan will probably be able to celebrate great success with the senior national team.
Thanks to foreign know-how, the sleeping giant should now be woken up in the adult area. In the run-up to the Asian Cup Uzbekistan played for a year only friendlies. With only two wins in twelve games, the performances were, however, manageable. However, Oman (2-1 victory) and Turkmenistan (4-0 victory) are definitely not a barometer and much weaker than Australia. The game against Japan is difficult to assess as both sides lacked the final reprint. In any case, while Uzbekistan has good prospects for the future, the top teams in Asia are still one class higher. To this end, in the game between Australia and Uzbekistan shows our prediction that the tip on the victory of the favorite is recommended.
Expected formation of Uzbekistan:
Nesterov – Zoteev, Ismailov, Tukhtakhodzhaev, Shorakhmedov – Shukurov – Masharipov, Sidikov, Akhmedov, Khamdamov – Shomurodov
Only three internationals have been played between Australia and Uzbekistan. As part of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, the two teams faced each other for the first time. At that time, the Australian Socceroos won both international matches without conceding (2: 0 and 1: 0). The last duel is now eight years back. At that time, the two teams also faced each other at the Asian Cup. In the semi-final Australia outclassed the completely overburdened Uzbeks 6-0. Thus, Australia has won all three previous international matches without conceding!
Japan, South Korea and Australia are the three big favorites at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. South Korea and Japan were able to underpin this role in the group stage and fix the group victory with nine points. Australia, on the other hand, had a hard time and needed a lot of fight to fix their progress. Nevertheless, the defending champion is still a hot contender for the title. In the round of 16, Australia are the clear favorites for victory in the regular season against Uzbekistan with odds of 1.70.
After an opening defeat, Australia still struggled into the second round!
The three previous internationals Australia has all won without conceding!
Uzbekistan is regarded in Asia as a “sleeping giant” – in the offspring, great successes have already been celebrated!
For Australia, however, not only the quality speaks, but also the fact that the team had two days more rest after the last group game. After all, Uzbekistan could stay in Al Ain after the 1: 2 against Japan. Nevertheless, a success of the outsider would be a big surprise. Oman and Turkmenistan are significantly weaker than the Australians. In addition to the quality of the experience speaks clearly for the legionary team from Australia (20 of 23 legionnaires). In addition, Rogic & Co have impressively shown that they can take on the fight and fight for success. Quality, longer break and the sense of achievement in the last second speak here for the defending champion. In Australia against Uzbekistan, our betting tips leads to the tip from Australia.
Sure Tips: victory Australia
Odds: 1.70
Betting Tips: Draw
Odds: 3.80
Bet Tip: Victory Uzbekistan
Odds: 5.30
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