The French under-20 national team is set to play against Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals on Saturday at 3 p.m. UTC. While France may be considered the favorite, they should not underestimate Uzbekistan, a team capable of both impressive performances and setbacks.
Uzbekistan secured a 3-0 victory against New Zealand in the group stage but suffered the same scoreline defeat against Uruguay. France could potentially benefit from key absences in the Uzbekistan defense, with players like Bobourdek Yuldashov and Sardov Rakhmanov, as well as midfielder Jamshid Iskanderov possibly unavailable.
France welcomes back Samuel Umtiti, who was absent due to yellow card accumulation in the previous matches. Despite being considered favorites, the French team is cautious and acknowledges the challenge posed by Uzbekistan. Coach Pierre Mankowski emphasizes the need to take the match seriously, as Uzbekistan is an excellent, well-organized team that can defend effectively and be dangerous on the counterattack.
