Uzbekistan

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Uzbekistan

Road to Qatar

Uzbekistan qualified easily.

In a three-team group after India pulled out (the Bhangra Boys had already booked their place due to their AFC Challenge Cup win) and with Malaysia proving to be poor and collecting no points, it was easy for the Uzbeks to qualify along with UAE.

Fixtures

Group A

Uzbekistan v Qatar; 7 January 2011, Khalifa , Doha

Uzbekistan v Kuwait; 12 January 2011, Al-Gharafa, Doha

Uzbekistan v China ; 16 January 2011, Al-Gharafa, Doha

Analysis

Uzbekistan have reached the last eight in the last two tournaments and were unlucky in Jakarta in 2007 to lose to Saudi Arabia in a highly entertaining encounter. That seemed to put the Central Asians on course to become a genuine power in the region but they were disappointing in qualification for the 2010 World Cup and never really got going.

The talent is there with strikers such as Maksim Shatskikh and Alexander Geynrikh as well as talented midfielders like Server Djeparov. Uzbekistan are physically strong and technically sound but the worry is that the team just doesn't have what it takes mentally to become winners.

At the back the team looks a little fragile and ponderous in the middle of defence and that weakness will have to be ironed out.

They have been placed in a very open group and could just as easily come first as fourth but a good start is necessary. If the Uzbeks manage that then they could go far.

There are a number of good youngsters coming through the ranks but they will not be in action in Asia until Australia 2015 and that is when we may see an Uzbekistan team that starts to realize its potential.

Key player: Server Djeparov

The 2008 Asian Player of the Year has enjoyed a pretty good season in Korea with champions FC Seoul. His all-round midfield play added vision and intelligence to the team's attack as it deservedly took the title. Djeparov needs to start shining on a more regular and consistent basis for his country for if the playmaker plays well then so do Uzbekistan.

One to watch: Deng Zhuoxiang

Alexander Geynrikh. The tall former Torpedo and CSKA Moscow marksman doesn't always receive the press he deserves when playing alongside one of the most profilic strikers in Asia Makshim Shatskikh. He is talented with the ball at his feet and is powerful in the air. A good all round striker.

Coach: Vadim Abramov

Vadim Abramov has been in the job for not yet a year but is under pressure to produce results. He has a good number of critics back home who feel that he is simply not up to the job. He will never get a better chance to prove them wrong.

Record

Quarter-finalists 2004, 2007

Soccerphile says

In a very open group, Uzbekistan have a good chance to progress to the quarter-finals but it is unlikely that they will get any further than that.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Temur Juraev (FC Pakhtakor Tashkent), Ignatiy Nesterov (Bunyodkor), Murod Zukhurov (Nasaf Qarshi)
Defenders: Yaroslav Krushelnitskiy (Shurtan Guzar), Shavkat Mullajanov (Olmaliq), Anzur Ismailov (Bunyodkor), Aziz Ibrohimov (Bohemians 1905), Sakhob Juraev (Bunyodkor), Farrukh Nurliboev (Olmaliq FK), Viktor Karpenko (Bunyodkor), Vagiz Galiullin (FC Sibir Novosibirsk)
Midfielders: Aziz Haydarov (Bunyodkor), Server Djeparov (FC Seoul), Odil Ahmedov (FC Pakhtakor Tashkent), Shavkat Salomov (Nasaf Qarshi), Marat Bikmaev (FC Alania Vladikavkaz), Stanislav Andreev (FC Pakhtakor Tashkent), Sanjar Tursunov (FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod), Timur Kapadze (Bunyodkor), Jasur Hasanov (Lekhwiya),
Forwards: Olim Havkarov (Qizilqum Zarafshon), Alexander Geynrikh (FC Pakhtakor Tashkent), Maksim Shatskikh (FC Arsenal Kviv),

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

Our partner site QatarVisitor.com based in Doha carries all the necessary details on attending the event including travel, visa and hotel information.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up with the latest Asian Cup news and get the chance to win one of our regular free prizes.

Search Hotels in
Arrival:	Departure: