AFC Asian Cup: Uzbekistan vs Syria Preview, Head-To-Head, Lineup, Live Streaming and Telecast

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AFC Asian Cup, Uzbekistan vs Syria: Uzbekistan will make three points a priority when they take on inferior-ranked Syria in their opening Group B match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan on Saturday (January 13).

World No. 68 Uzbekistan, who made a round of 16 exit in 2019 UAE, would see World No. 92 Syria as one of the easier challenges in the group with Australia in the group as well. Uzbekistan's best-ever finish in AFC Asian Cup 2011 and would prefer to make a similar impression.

Match: Uzbekistan vs Syria
Kick-off time: 8:30 PM local time; 10:30 PM (Tashkent); 8:30 PM (Damascus)
Location: Al Rayyan
Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
Capacity: 15,000
Date: January 13, 2024

Uzbekistan vs Syria: Head-to-Head Record

This will be the 7th encounter between Uzbekistan and Syria at the senior level with their latest encounter coming back in 2020 during an international friendly, which Syria won 1-0. Mahmoud Al Mawas scored the winning goal in a game that saw two red cards.

Matches Played in all competitions: 6
Syria Win: 3
Uzbekistan Win: 2
Draws: 1
Syria Goals: 5
Uzbekistan Goals: 6

Uzbekistan vs Syria Preview

Uzbekistan are seen as the Asian Cup 2023's dark horse and might be the Socceroos' greatest rival for first place in the group thanks to a continuously improving team and an experienced head coach in the dugout.

The team managed by Srecko Katanec comes into this tournament riding high after a strong qualification campaign that saw them win all three of their games against the Maldives, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In their last six games across all competitions, they have also not lost, winning five and just drawing one.

Meanwhile, Syria are predicted by many to challenge Australia and Uzbekistan for the top two spots in this group, but even if they don't, they still have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stage because the top four teams from each of the six groups will also advance.

With a draw against Palestine and a loss to Jordan in their opening two games at the 2019 Asian Cup, Syria found it difficult to advance, and veteran German coach Bernd Stange was fired as a result. Due to that choice, Fajr Ibrahim was appointed head coach of the national team for a fourth time halfway through the competition.

Syria signed the services of renowned Argentinean head coach Hector Cuper in February 2023. Cuper held managerial positions at elite European clubs like Inter Milan, Valencia, and Parma during the early 2000s.

Uzbekistan vs Syria: Predicted Lineup

Uzbekistan: Utkir Yusupov (GK); Farrukh Sayfiev, Khojiakbar Alijonov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Sherzod Nasrullaev; Alisher Shukurov, Odiljon Hamrobekov, Jalolidin Masharipov (C), Abbosbek Fayzullaev; Oston Urunov, Igor Sergeyev

Manager: Srecko Katanec

Syria: Ibrahim Alma (GK); Moayad Ajan, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Thaer Krouma; Fahd Youssef, Mouhamad Anez, Mohammad Al Marmour, Elmar Abraham, Ibrahim Hesar; Omar Khribin

Manager: Hector Cuper

Uzbekistan vs Syria: Live Streaming and Telecast

Live Streaming & TV Telecast: BeIN Sports (Middle East and North Africa); MTRK (Uzbekistan)