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AFC Asian Cup 2007 will start from July 7, 2007 in four Asian countries including Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Along with some top teams like Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Iran- there are some middle category teams who can emerge as giant killers in the competition. I think that Uzbekistan has the good potential of being one of the giant killers.

Uzbekistan team includes some overseas players who can be vital for them including Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh. Many Uzbek players play in Russian league and they are familiar with that top level of European football. Coach Rauf Inileyev has given much focus on the players who have better performance in the Uzbekistan football league in the recent years.

The final squad of Uzbekistan is given below:

Uzbekistan squad for Asian Cup: Pavel Bugalo (Kuruvchi), Ignatiy Nesterov (Pakhtakor), Gayratjon Hasanov (Neftchi); Hayrulla Karimov (Mash’al), Botir Karaev (Mash’al), Asror Aliqulov (Pakthakor), Anzur Ismailov (Pakthakor), Alexey Nikolaev (Aktobe), Islom Innomov (Pakthakor), Vitaliy Denisov (Dnipro); Aziz Ibragimov (Slovan Bratislava), Azizbek Haydarov (Lokomotiv Tashkent), Server Djeparov (Pakthakor), Marat Bikmaev (Rubin Kazan), Hikmat Hashimov (Nasaf), Mansurjon Saidov (Neftchi), Timur Kapadze (Pakthakor), Ildar Magdeev (Pakthakor), Ikboljon Akramov (Neftchi); Pavel Solomin (Saturn Moscow Oblast), Ulugbek Bakaev (Tobol), Aleksandr Geynrikh (Pakhtakor), Maksim Shatskikh (Dynamo Kiev).

Reserves: Anvar Gafurov (Mash’al), Komoliddin Tadjiyev (Pakhtakor), Ilhomjon Suyunov (Pakhtakor); Victor Karpenko (Kuruvchi), Odil Ahmedov (Pakhatkor), Hamza Karimov (Mash’al), Jasur Khasanov (Kuruvchi).

Uzbekistan’s performance in previous Asian Cup tournaments was not that satisfactory but I think the players who are playing in Russian league can bring something good for the team. It is sure that their performance in the tournament will highly depend on these players playing outside of the country. Now, let’s see what Uzbekistan can do in Asian Cup 2007.