Croatia and Uzbekistan will battle for supremacy in Group F of the U-20 World Cup 2013 on Wednesday.
Both sides enter the match with three points. Croatia took down Uruguay 1-0 in its first game while Uzbekistan pulled off a shocking 3-0 victory against New Zealand.
"It was intense and the atmosphere was pretty fierce," Croatia's Marco Pjaca told FIFA.com said about his team's win against Uruguay. "It was a really tough game, particularly in the second-half when they built up the pressure, but we held on and we can be happy with how it turned out...Ultimately, it was a great performance, it's always important to open the tournament with a win and the whole team worked hard, so we hope to continue that way."
Pjaca noted that his upcoming match against the Asian squad will be difficult, but he and his teammates are confident of their chances in the match.
"There's a really good team spirit amongst the players, which is one of our real strengths," Pjaca stated. "We've got great players, playing in great teams, such as Marko Livaja in Italy, and some players - like Rebic - who should go on to play for some top clubs. Our main goal is a possession game, and from there we look to create chances."
"The main goal is to get through the group stage and if we manage that, then we will see," he concluded.
The winner of the match will clinch a spot in the knockout round if Uruguay and New Zealand battle to a draw. A draw between the two teams would leave them susceptible in their final matches.
Prediction: The two sides will contest an evenly fought battle that will likely be decided by a goal. Look for Uzbekistan for pull of the surprise 1-0 victory.
Start Time: Kickoff starts at 2 PM EST.
TV: The game will be televised in the United States.
Watch Live Stream on ESPN 3 By Clicking HERE.
Follow Live Score on FIFA.com by clicking HERE.
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