The Uzbeks have competed in five Asian Cups since becoming an independent nation from the Soviet Union, while the Socceroos are only in their second edition of the tournament after making the move from Oceania to the Asian Football Confederation.
Australia’s contingent of English Premier League stars makes them the recognizable favourites for this match but Uzbekistan are the form team of the tournament.
Under relatively unknown manager Vadim Abramov they’ve shown a tactical adaptability that has seen them fail to keep the same line-up in all four of their matches.
Against Jordan in their quarter final, the Central Asians made five changes to the team that drew with China in its final group game, Abramov switching to a five-man backline and utilizing wingbacks; it remains to be seen whether he persists with the shape that was so effective against Jordan or reverts back to packing his midfield.
Australia manager Holger Osieck has a clearly defined system and has largely kept his starting XI untouched throughout the campaign, changing personnel only when forced to do so by injury or suspension.
His team produced their finest performance against Iraq in what was a fiery quarter final, gaining a measure of revenge for their embarrassing 3-1 defeat at the hands of the West Asians four years ago.
Harry Kewell scored the winning goal deep into extra time, though Tim Cahill’s contrasting lack of impact at this tournament has been conspicuous.
The Uzbeks will be wary of the threat posed by the Everton man nonetheless and Abramov will surely make plans for he and strike partner Kewell.
This will be an interesting clash of coaching and playing styles, with the Uzbeks preferring a possession-based game and the Australians showing against Iraq that they aren’t afraid to put teams under pressure by undertaking a more direct route to goal.
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Australia
Brett Emerton’s return from suspension means Matt McKay will likely make way for him to return to the starting line-up despite his man-of-the-match display against Iraq. Tim Cahill and Brett Holman have been under injury clouds but should start.
Probable starting XI: Schwarzer; Carney, Neill, Ognenovski, Wilkshire; Holman, Valeri, Jedinak, Emerton; Cahill, Kewell
Uzbekistan
The Uzbeks have kept injury and suspension-free throughout the tournament though it’s hard to tell with Abramov what the starting XI and system will be at times. I get the feeling he’ll go with the same shape that he did against Jordan.
Probable starting XI: Nesterov; Tursunov, Mullajanov, Ahmedov, S. Juraev, Hasanov; Kapadze, Haydarov, Djeparov; Bakaev, Geynrikh
Prediction
I just get the sense that Australia gained a great deal of momentum given the manner of their victory against Iraq. Uzbekistan might well pinch this but Australia have the quality up-front to punish the Central Asians for their defensive lapses and weakness defending set-pieces, something the Jordanians were unable to do. Cahill and Kewell to fire Australia into the final.
Uzbekistan 0-2 Australia 
