The two semi-finals of the U23 Asian Cup have come to an end, with Japan beating Iraq 2-0 and Uzbekistan beating Indonesia 2-0. Japan and Uzbekistan will face it out for the title, Indonesia and Iraq will battle for another direct ticket to the Olympics, and the loser will play a play-off against the African team. In the match between Uzbekistan and Indonesia, it can be said that most of the focus was on Indonesia.
As a fourth-tier team in Asia, it is indeed worth paying attention to being able to rely on naturalized players to beat Australia and South Korea to advance to the top four. Coupled with the fact that Indonesian football has naturalized Dutch players in all aspects, their results have grown by leaps and bounds, so all parties expect them to create another miracle and advance to the final. However, the biggest dark horse in Asian football is not Indonesia, but their opponent Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan showed a strong dominance throughout the game, with more than 6% possession and 25 shots on goal.
Uzbekistan's Under-23s qualified for the Asian Cup final and participated in the Olympics for the first time in their history, but these are only a small part of the rise of Central Asian wolf football. In addition to advancing to the finals in 2024, winning the championship in 2018, the semi-finals in 2020, and the runner-up in 2022, and reaching the finals 3 times in the last 4 U23 Asian Cups, all of which have reached the top 4. In other age groups, they won a bronze medal at last year's Asian Games, won the 2023 U20 Asian Cup, and reached the semi-finals of last year's U17 Asian Junior Championship.
In terms of senior national team, Uzbekistan has experienced a period of slump and is now back in the top 10 in Asia, for the national football team, Uzbekistan is an opponent we do not want to meet in any game, even more difficult than Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other teams. At the Asian Cup at the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan reached the last eight, only to be eliminated by future champions Qatar in a penalty shootout. In the first four rounds of the round of 36 of the World Preliminary Championships, they won 3 wins and 1 draw, and only drew one game with Iran, according to this form, they have no problem getting the top 8 in Asia to enter the World Cup.
Uzbekistan started with the Under-23s, and their younger players have achieved even better results than Japan and South Korea. Of course, some Japanese and South Korean players are in Europe, and they have not participated in many Asian events in the lower age group, but there is really nothing to say about the level of Uzbekistan, and the national football team will not only be able to beat them in the future, but Uzbekistan is likely to become a second-rate top team in Asia, stronger than Qatar and Saudi Arabia.