<|channel>1. SSKA player Popov spoke about the Uzbekistan and Russia match

In an interview with "Euro-Futbol" publication, former SSKA Tashkent striker Denis Popov shared his thoughts on the friendly match between the Uzbekistan and Russia national teams to be held in Tashkent in November. One.uz reports this.

The former footballer assessed the current level and potential of the "White Eagles," who are heading to the 2026 World Cup. Denis Popov stated that it is difficult to directly compare the Uzbekistan national team with strong opponents like Egypt or Nigeria.

However, he argued that one cannot simply qualify for the World Cup held in the USA by chance, and he considers this evidence of Uzbekistan's high-level preparation and consistent performance. Successfully completing the qualifying stages with systematic play also confirms the team's strength.

At the same time, the expert noted that the friendly status of the match could affect the squad composition and intensity of the game. Since it is not an official match, it is not yet clear if Uzbekistan's strongest lineup will take the field, and there is a possibility that leading players may not appear.

Popov specifically mentioned that for him personally, the performance of his own national team and the players' display on the field is more important. The match will take place on November 12 at the "Paxtakor" Central Stadium in Tashkent.

The two national teams previously played to a 0:0 draw in Tashkent in 2022. This upcoming clash will also serve as an important test for both sides to re-evaluate opportunities and future tasks.

Source: One.uz