World Cup qualifiers: Uzbekistan determined to bounce back against North Korea

Head coach Srečko Katanec and Masharipov addressed the media on November 18, ahead of the critical match, expressing their readiness to overcome challenges and achieve a positive result.

Katanec noted that the team had sufficient time to prepare after their narrow loss to Qatar but highlighted issues with the quality of training pitches. "Despite minor problems with the training ground, we understand the importance of tomorrow’s match and will do everything to deliver a positive result," he stated.

Masharipov echoed similar concerns but downplayed their significance, focusing instead on the team’s objective. "We are here to give our best and earn three points. This is our sole task," he said.

Reflecting on the loss to Qatar, Katanec acknowledged that setbacks are part of the qualification journey. "It's impossible to go through qualifiers without any defeats. Tomorrow is an opportunity for the players to step up and make the most of this chance," he remarked.

Masharipov also emphasized the importance of moving past the Qatar game and focusing entirely on North Korea. "We’ve spoken as a team about putting the first match behind us. We are strong, and we will prove that by delighting our fans with a victory tomorrow," he added.

Uzbekistan’s squad faces additional challenges as captain Eldor Shomurodov and midfielder Otabek Shukurov have been ruled out due to injuries sustained in the Qatar match.

In other matches in the group, Iran currently leads after defeating North Korea 3-2, while the UAE beat Kyrgyzstan 3-0. Uzbekistan's group standings remain competitive, making tomorrow's game crucial for their World Cup qualification hopes.