January 2, 2025
The Unwanted Boys, the dark horses of the Kings World Cup Nations?
After defeating Saudi Arabia in their debut, the Uzbek team is confident in their chances of going far in the KWC Nations
One of the biggest surprises of the first round of the Kings World Cup Nations was Uzbekistan’s victory over Saudi Arabia. The Uzbek team showcased their chemistry, forged through years of shared experience.
“Yes, all the players have been part of the Unwanted Boys for two years,” said Timur Golikov, Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper, who played a key role in this historic win.
Although Golikov didn’t have much to do during Saudi Arabia’s President Penalty, which SHoNgxBоNg sent wide, the Uzbek goalkeeper shone by saving a penalty from Abdullah Almutairi.
“We’re going all the way to the final”
The Uzbek team has shown that their strength lies in the bond they have built over years of playing together. However, their main challenge has been adapting to the Kings universe.
“It’s a new format for us, and we’re still adjusting, as you saw in our match against Saudi Arabia. There’s work to be done.”
Despite the obstacles, Uzbekistan secured a hard-fought victory in the Asian derby thanks to Shakhriyor Jabborov’s Golden Goal, giving them wings to dream of playing a leading role in the tournament.
“We came here with the mindset that we were going to give it our all to reach the final. The special cards can decide a match, and we already saw that against Saudi Arabia. We’re going all the way to the final with this mentality.”
Now, Uzbekistan will have to prove that determination in their upcoming match against the United States in the second round of the KWC Nations 2025.
