Semi-final Preview: Uzbekistan v Korea Republic

Ravshan Khaydarov has given his squad a clean bill of health as Uzbekistan begin the final preparations for their AFC U23 Championship 2018 semi-final clash with Korea Republic on Tuesday.

Khaydarov’s team go into the last four meeting with Kim Bong-gil’s side having demolished Japan in the quarter-finals and the coach is confident his team will be ready for their test along the road to the title.

“We don’t have any problems in the squad,” he said. “All the players are ready for tomorrow’s match. Physically, tactically and mentally we are ready and I hope tomorrow we will show our best football in the game.

“Uzbekistan and Korea have already played four games in this tournament and we have the same condition because after four games some players are tired or have some problems, but our staff are working on it now. We have the same condition at the moment.”

Uzbekistan’s performance in the 4-0 win over the defending champions was one of the high points of the tournament so far, and Khaydarov believes his team will face off against the Koreans with their spirits lifted as a result.

“After the last game, when my team defeated Japan it will help the team mentally,” he said. “But we know how strong the Korean team are and I hope my team will show the football that they showed against Japan in the last game.

“Now we are preparing mentally and physical. We know Korea are strong physically and we will try to do our best against them.”

The Koreans, meanwhile, take on the Uzbeks after squeezing past Malaysia in their quarter-final, with Han Seung-gyu scoring a late winner against the Southeast Asian side to advance to the semi-finals.

Kim’s team have hit their stride only occasionally, labouring in their opening win over Vietnam before drawing with Syria and impressing during the opening 65 minutes of their 3-2 win over Australia.

“Thanks to our players we have been able to reach the semi-finals,” said Kim. “From what I have seen, Uzbekistan have a good balance between attack and defence and they are a very good team.

“We have some minor injuries and the players are tired but we’ll do our best and show our own style. We have had one day less rest than the opposition team, and that’s not good for us, but we will focus on our strength and cover our weaknesses and in our team meeting we will work on that.

“We just have some minor injuries and we will check for the final starting list and we will prepare for the game.”

The Koreans have played all four of their matches at the Kunshan Stadium, but Khaydarov is confident that will not provide his opposite number much of an advantage after his side’s games in both Changzhou and Jiangyin.

“Maybe the fact that Korea have played all the games in this stadium, maybe they have already adapted,” he said. “But we are in the same conditions because we’re all playing in China, it’s the same country so it should not be a problem.”

Source: The-AFC.com

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