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Uzbekistan vs. Colombia: Lineups, Stats, Schedule, and How to Watch

Asher Hyre Updated: 12 hours ago

Here's a complete preview of the World Cup Group K opener between Uzbekistan and Colombia, including probable lineups, key statistics, match schedule, and broadcast details.

Uzbekistan is set to make its World Cup debut in a historic match against a seasoned Colombian side. This clash marks a significant milestone for the Central Asian nation as they step onto football's biggest stage for the first time.

The Uzbek team secured their spot by finishing second in their Asian qualifying group, just behind Iran. Since qualifying last June, they have played a series of friendlies under the guidance of former Real Madrid star Fabio Cannavaro, who took the helm in October.

In eleven matches, Uzbekistan has recorded six wins, four draws, and suffered three losses against tougher opponents like Uruguay, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Colombia, known as "Los Cafeteros," are making their seventh World Cup appearance after failing to qualify for the tournament in Qatar. They earned their ticket by finishing third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, behind Argentina and Ecuador.

In their eight preparatory friendlies, they have notched five victories (including wins over Mexico and Australia), one draw (against Canada), and two defeats (to Croatia and France). In a group that also features Portugal and Congo, the Colombians are considered co-favorites with the Portuguese to advance to the knockout stages.

Uzbekistan vs. Colombia: Stats

Both Uzbekistan and Colombia have identical records in their last five matches, with three wins and two losses each.

The "White Wolves" of Uzbekistan have scored 8 goals and conceded 7 in that span, while Colombia's record shows 10 goals for and 6 against.

Both teams have managed to keep two clean sheets during this recent run of games.

Probable Lineups

Uzbekistan: Yusupov; Khusanov, Sayfiev, Ashurmatov, Nasrullaev; Urozov, Mozgovoy, Shukurov; Urunov, Fayzullaev, Shomurodov.

Manager: Fabio Cannavaro.

Colombia: Vargas; Muñoz, Lucumí, Mojica, Sánchez; Rodríguez, Arias, Puerta, Lerma; Díaz, Suárez.

Manager: Néstor Lorenzo.

Injuries and Suspensions

Uzbekistan: Khojiakbar Alijonov and Jaloliddin Masharipov are sidelined with injuries.

Colombia: No reported absences.

Head-to-Head History

The national teams of Uzbekistan and Colombia have never faced each other before, making this their first-ever encounter.

Date, Time, and How to Watch

This World Cup Group K match will be played on Wednesday, June 17, at 10:00 PM EST from the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico. The game will be available to watch live on FS1, available via cable and live streaming services such as YouTube TV.