Members of the Youth National Team of Uzbekistan, who won the "silver" at the Asian Cup among players under 23 in Qatar and secured a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games, returned to their homeland on May 4. The athletes were ceremoniously welcomed at the Tashkent International Airport.
The head coach of the Youth National Football Team of Uzbekistan, Timur Kapadze, expressed his thoughts on the team's performance at the tournament in an interview with journalists. "The mood is good. We are going to the Olympics. We will prepare for it. I think there is nothing better than this. The opponents [at the Olympics] are strong, but we find it interesting. Both Spain and Egypt... we have already played against them, and exciting games await us," he said.
According to Kapadze, after the defeat in the final of the Asian Cup U-23 against Japan, his players experienced "a slight drop in mood, but overall everything is good."
"This is football. It was a disappointing defeat, but despite that, we moved well, gave our all, and achieved our main goal... Thanks to the fans for their support and prayers. I think this is a collective victory," the coach said.
Midfielder of "Neftchi" and the National Team of Uzbekistan, Jasur Jaloliddinov, stated that the team showed that they were the strongest in the tournament, even though they lost to Japan in the final.
Midfielder of "Rubin" Umarali Rakhmonaliev believes that the team lacked a bit of quality from the legionnaires - defender Abdugodir Khusanov from the French "Lens," midfielder Khojimat Erkinov from the Emirati "Al-Wahda," and midfielder Abbasbek Fayzullaev from the Russian CSKA, who left the team before the final. The Uzbekistan Football Association and the clubs had agreed that the players would go to the tournament to achieve the main goal - securing a spot in the Olympics. They accomplished this task, so the youth team released the players back.
Timur Kapadze believes that with the legionnaires, Uzbekistan U-23 would have been even stronger, considering their role in the team. According to him, this tournament served as a kind of preparation for the 2024 Olympics, where the team will go as a "prepared team."
Uzbekistan U-23 is placed in Group C, where they will play on July 24 against Spain, on July 27 against Egypt, and on July 30 against the Dominican Republic.
