India vs Uzbekistan Prediction: White Wolves can take leap towards knockout stages

The second game of Thursday’s AFC Asian Cup action sees India, managed by former Derby County and West Ham defender Igor Stimac, take on Uzbekistan (KO, 14:30).

A win is of paramount importance to both sides, who both failed to win their opening matches. India were beaten 2-0 by group favourites Australia while the Uzbeks were held to a goalless draw with Syria.

Team News

India registered just four shots against Australia and so attacking changes may be implemented for this must-win encounter. All-time top scorer Sunil Chhetri, India's most capped player, is likely to keep his place up front, but there may be a change in the supporting cast with Naorem Singh and Liston Colaco vying for starts.

Uzbekistan kept their second consecutive clean sheet in their draw with Syria, and may utilise a similar starting 11 for Thursday’s game. Igor Sergeyev came off the bench in the second half and will be looking to start next time around, with no player in the White Wolves squad netting more international goals than his 18.

Match Odds

India are large outsiders to pick up three points at 16/1, whereas Uzbekistan are 1/9 favourites to claim victory.

A draw can be backed at 6/1, while Uzbekistan striker Bobur Abdikholikov is the favourite to score at 11/10.

Uzbekistan to win and Under 2.5 goals @ 6/4

India suffered a miserable end to 2023, losing four of their five games post July and scoring just five goals in the process.

Ranked 104th in the world, the Blue Tigers do not possess much in the form of historical success on the world or continental stage, having qualified for this tournament just four times and exiting at the group stage in their last three appearances.

Talismanic striker Chhetri has scored 93 goals for his country, the third most of any player on the international stage, but no other member of the squad has scored more than seven times, so it is difficult to see where the goals will come from if their 39-year old captain underperforms.

Srecko Katanec’s Uzbekistan side are on an eight-game unbeaten run, and it is no surprise that they are such firm favourites to win this encounter.

That unbeaten streak has featured creditable score draws with Iran and Mexico as well as beating Palestine in their final warm-up match for the tournament.

The Uzbeks are ranked 77th in the world and should expect to come away with their first victory of the tournament against a side ranked 27 places below them.

However, injury to all-time top goalscorer Eldor Shomurodov preventing his participation will mean that finding the net may be more difficult than expected, and so a low-scoring victory may be on the cards.

Jalollidin Masharipov to score anytime @ 13/8

Shomurodov’s injury has severely blunted the attacking force of the White Wolves, and the rest of the squad now must try to fill his scoring shoes if they are to progress to the knockout stage.

Jalollidin Masharipov may be the man to do so, with the midfielder finding the net 10 times for his country as well as being arguably the best attacking player on the field against Syria.

If Katanec’s men are to win on Thursday, expect Masharipov to have a hand in it.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.