Uzbekistan – Colombia: Three Points For Colombia But A Closer Game Than The Score Suggested (1-3)

Colombia managed to get the three points against Uzbekistan in a 3-1 victory in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round 1 fixture with goals from Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz cancelling an equaliser from Uzbekistan’s Abbosbek Fayzullaev. However, the scoreline didn’t portray the intense battle on the pitch.

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan.

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It’s certainly was a baptism of fire for Fabio Cannavaro and his Uzbekistan side since his takeover as manager of the team in this game. There were some genuine flashes of intricate play and resolute defending under the Cannavaro blueprint for Uzbekistan, but perhaps the quality of Colombia individually just proved to be the difference in this game.

Colombia mean business, captained by James Rodriguez who was named in the squad for the tournament, ageing like a bottle of fine wine, captaining his side in yet another World Cup and in all likelihood his last, aided by Bayern Munich star wideman Luis Diaz and a robust midfield and defense. However, Uzbekistan pushed them to the very end, especially after equalising following Colombia’s opening goal.

On the night, an obscure Uzbekistan squad barring Man City’s Khusanov, gave their travelling fans something to cheer about scoring their first ever World Cup goal and putting in a performance their supporters can be proud of despite the 3-1 scoreline.

The game ebbed and flowed, in the first half with Uzbekistan’s defense proving to be resolute until Daniel Munoz made a fantastic run from right-back to divert the ball into the Uzbekistan net. The goal forced Uzbekistan out of their low block in search for goals and they finally found an equaliser via Fayzullaev early in the second half.

However, Colombia proved to be too much to handle as Diaz gave Colombia a slender lead. A goal in added time against the run of play from substitute Campaz would seal it for Colombia as Nestor Lorenzo’s side walked away with three points and crucial Round 1 victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cannavaro deployed Uzbekistan in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Utkir Yusupov started in goal with a back three of Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, and Rustam Ashurmatov. Bekhruz Karimov started at right wing-back while Sherzod Nasrullaev started at left wing-back with a midfield double pivot of Akmal Mozgovoy and Otabek Shukurov. Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Oston Urunov stared as the dual attacking midfielders, while Eldor Shomurodov started as the central striker.

Colombia lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. Camilo Vargas started in goal with a back four of Daniel Munoz at right-back, Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Lucumi at center-back with Johan Monjica at left-back. The midfield trio comprised Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias and Gustavo Puerta. While James Rodriguez started on the right flank, Luis Diaz on the left flank with Luis Javier Suarez as the striker.

Colombia Take A Late First Half Lead

Nestor Lorenzo’s side lined up in a 4-3-3. However, their in-possession IP shape became a a 2-2-6 or even 2-1-7 structure with full-backs advancing, wingers inverting or staying wide, James roaming freely across the front line, and the two 8s pushing into half-spaces.

Colombia’s build-up started with the centre-backs splitting wide and Lerma dropping between them or slightly ahead to form a 3-2 base. Puerta and Arias rotated fluidly as one would drop while the other advanced into half-spaces. Full-backs especially Munoz, pushed high and wide, creating 2v1 or 3v2 situations on the flanks.

James was given a free roaming role as 10/8 hybrid often drifting left or central to link with Diaz and Suarez. Diaz and James inverted at times while the full-backs held width, creating the fluid rotations that produced the 2-2-6/2-1-7 higher up.

Colombia build up in a 2-1-7 vs Uzbekistan’s 5-4-1 OOP block with the Colombian CB pair in defense and Lerma as the midfield pivot. Colombia form a box midfield with Arias, Puerta and Diaz and James as the FBs push high and make overlapping or underlapping runs.

Progression was rather vertical and combination-heavy from Colombia. They created short triangles in the middle third followed by progressive passes or carries from James, Puerta and Diaz. They rarely went long unless forced as the emphasis was on positional interchange and exploiting half-spaces.

Meanwhile, Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan side sat in a disciplined, passive 5-4-1 mid-to-low block in their OOP shape. It did change into a 5-3-2 at times and in pressing phases but was largely a 5-4-1 as the back five stayed compact and narrow while the two wing-backs tucked in alongside the centre-backs.

Uzbekistan’s 5-4-1 OOP block vs Colombia’s 2-2-6 build-up. The Uzbek defense stayed compact against Colombia’s 2-2-6 vertical ball circulation in build up. 

The Uzbek double pivot screened centrally while the two No. 10s dropped to form a four-man midfield line. Pressing triggers were conservative and they rarely jumped aggressively on the ball carrier high up, preferring to stay compact and force Colombia wide or into low-percentage & low xG shots.

However, Colombia took the lead via Daniel Munoz. The Crystal Palace right-back made a well timed run from his full back position into a central area and was found by a delightful ball over the top of the Uzbek defense by Diaz as Munoz connected and diverted the ball into the Uzbekistan net to make it 1-0 just before half-time.

Colombia’s 1st goal. After some recycling the ball comes to Diaz in the LHS pocket. Munoz breaks the lines with a central run from RB and diverts Diaz’s pass into the Uzbekistan net. 1-0 Colombia.

Joy For All Uzbekistan As They Pull One Back

Colombia’s goal caused Cannavaro to alter his tactics after half-time. Uzbekistan needed a goal and so they played with much more intent in the second half than the first. Cannavaro’s side built patiently from the back three. The double pivot split to create passing lanes, with one midfielder, often Shukurov, dropping between the centre-backs to form a temporary back four. Wing-backs pushed high but stayed connected and Karimov and Nasrullaev offered overlap options but were rarely isolated 1v1 threats.

The two attacking midfielders, especially Fayzullaev dropped into pockets between Colombia’s lines to receive and turn, aiming for quick vertical passes to Shomurodov or switches to the wing-backs. Build-up was compact and low-risk with long balls to Shomurodov or direct switches were common triggers.

Uzbekistan built in a 3-2-5/3-1-6 generally but in the second half they shifted toward a 3-1-6 to add an extra body higher, improving progression through the wide areas once they began to press from goal kicks.

Colombia meanwhile transitioned between a 4-4-2 & 4-5-1 zonal mid-block in their OOP shape. The front two of Diaz & Suarez or rotated & pressed the Uzbekistan centre-backs or double pivot, while the two 8s Arias & Puerta and wingers formed the second line. The full-backs stayed relatively deep initially but stepped out to engage the Uzbek wing-backs.

Colombia transition between a 4-5-1 low block & a 4-4-2 mid block vs Uzbekistan’s 3-1-6/3-2-5 build up.

The Colombian block was not aggressively high-pressing but it aimed to deny central progression and funnel play wide while screening the space between the lines. However, the Colombia midfield pair sometimes failed to screen diagonal passes effectively, and the centre-backs were hesitant to step out and jump, leaving gaps that a more dynamic & purposeful side could exploit.

Uzbekistan duly equalised after a strike from Shomurodov deflected off the Colombian keeper Vargas and fell kindly for Fayzullaev who scored from point-blank range to draw Uzbekistan level.

Colombia Prove Too Strong As Diaz and Campaz Seal The Game

The Uzbekistan goal kept the game alive and showed Cannavaro’s side could hurt Colombia when the South Americans lost concentration or over-committed numbers forward.

But on a breakaway Luis Diaz’s goal was the standout moment of individual quality for Colombia. Puerta robbed possession in midfield and fed Diaz, who finished clinically. His strike could have arguably been saved but Yusupov couldn’t get a strong enough palm to stop Diaz’s shot from going in. The goal displayed Colombia’s vertical threat and Diaz’s ability to exploit half-spaces & channels against the passive Uzbek block.

Uzbekistan then had to chase the game again & started having more possession and committed bodies forward. Both managers made their changes after the 70th minute mark shortly after Diaz’s goal. Uzbekistan tried to push forward in search of an equaliser but that left them overcommitted and vulnerable at the back.

However, they did fashion two chances late on as Mozgovoy narrowly blazed an effort over the bar after finding space in the Colombia box while Karimov’s venomous hit from distance late on came off the woodwork.

The final nail in the Uzbekistan coffin came via Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz. His goal came from some great work by substitute Cucho Hernandez. Hernandez held up and kept the ball under pressure near the touchline on the flank and delivered a pin-point cross for Campaz to head home as both Colombia substitutes combined. And that was game, set and match to Colombia.

Takeaways

This wasn’t as straightforward a win as Colombia would have envisioned and the scoreline didn’t reflect the nature of the game. But Lorenzo’s side will be glad they rode the Uzbek wave & were decisive in the final third to clinch a huge three points in their group.

For Uzbekistan, Fabio Cannavaro & his side can certainly hold their heads high with the performance they put in. They were rather pragmatic initially in the first half but took the game to Colombia in the 2nd half as the game opened up after the Munoz goal. There were indeed plenty of positives to take away for Uzbekistan as they look to make it out of their group at this World Cup.

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