Guardian
10-12-2004, 09:41 AM
Oct 9, 2004
FootballAsia.com
TASHKENT - Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh has given Uzbekistan the ideal boost ahead of next week’s crucial World Cup 2006 qualifier against Iraq by joining the squad for the first time since early February.
He arrived in Tashkent to join the Uzbekistan national team training camp along with eight other overseas players from the Russian premier division and 13 players from domestic league leaders Pakhtakor.
The Uzbekistan national team are to leave Tashkent on October 12 by charter flight directly to Amman, Jordan, which is hosting the match due to the tenuous security situation in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
A point clear at the top of the group, Uzbekistan know that a draw in Amman will put put them within touching distance of a place in the final round of the Asian qualifiers with only a home game against Chinese Taipei remaining. Iraq, who drew 1-1 against Uzbekistan in Tashkent earlier this year, must win if they are to keep any realistic hope alive.
Uzbekistan national team coach Ravshan Haydarov has decided to name 13 players from league leaders Pakhtakor making it the biggest call-up from a single club in the history of Uzbekistan football.
However, Uzbekistan's hopes of lining-up their strongest side have been dented by the withdrawal of two key players through injury - Oleg Pashinin and Vladimir Maminov.
Two other key players who started against Iraq in their previous meeting in Tashkent in early February, defender Nikolay Shirshov from Rostov and midfielder Viktor Karpenko from Shinnik Yaroslavl are also missing from the final 22, leaving Uzbekistan to rely on Pakhtakor players Alexey Nikolaev on left wing and Vladislav Kiryan on midfield.
However, the Uzbekistan national team will face face Iraq in their biggest game since the 2004 Asian Cup quarter-final against Bahrain with five strikers, including recent Asian Cup stars Alexander Geynrikh and Vladimir Shishelov, Anvar Soliev of Pakhtakor, who scored the equalizer against Iraq in February, startlet Marat Bikmoyev, who recently joined Russian side Krilya Sovetov and Dynamo Kiev star Maksim Shatskikh.
Captain Mirdjalal Kasimov will need another inspired performance in midfield if Uzbekistan are to avoid a defeat that would see the veteran miss out on his final opportunity to play in the World Cup finals.
Iraq should prove tough opposition for the Uzbeks after their fine form of recent month. One of the most improved sides in Asian football, the Iraqis reached the Asian Cup quarter-finals and the Olympics semi-finals in Athens in recent months.
Uzbekistan squad
Goalkeepers: Alexey Polyakov (Krilya Sovetov/RUS), Evgeniy Safonov (Sinnik/RUS), Ignatiy Nesterov (Pakhtakor)
Defenders: Andrey Fyodorov (Rubin/RUS), Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov (Pakhtakor), Asror Aliqulov (Pakhtakor), Alexey Nikolaev (Pakhtakor), Vladimir Radkevich (Rotor/RUS)
Midfielders: Mirdjalal Kasimov (Alaniya/RUS), Andrey Akopyants (Rostov/RUS), Leonid Koshelev (Pakhtakor), Server Jeparov (Pakhtakor), Timur Kopadze (Pakhtakor), Vladislav Kiryan (Pakhtakor), Ildar Magdeev (Pakhtakor), Islom Inamov (Pakhtakor), Vyacheslav Ponomaryov (Pakhtakor)
Forwards: Vladimir Shishelov (Pakhtakor), Anvar Soliev (Pakhtakor), Marat Bikmoev (Krilya Sovetov/RUS), Alexander Geynrikh (CSKA/RUS), Maksim Shatskikh (Dynamo Kiev/UKR). (http://www.footballasia.com/en/comps/worldcup/index.asp?id=37062&cid=991&mth=10&yr=2004)
FootballAsia.com
TASHKENT - Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh has given Uzbekistan the ideal boost ahead of next week’s crucial World Cup 2006 qualifier against Iraq by joining the squad for the first time since early February.
He arrived in Tashkent to join the Uzbekistan national team training camp along with eight other overseas players from the Russian premier division and 13 players from domestic league leaders Pakhtakor.
The Uzbekistan national team are to leave Tashkent on October 12 by charter flight directly to Amman, Jordan, which is hosting the match due to the tenuous security situation in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
A point clear at the top of the group, Uzbekistan know that a draw in Amman will put put them within touching distance of a place in the final round of the Asian qualifiers with only a home game against Chinese Taipei remaining. Iraq, who drew 1-1 against Uzbekistan in Tashkent earlier this year, must win if they are to keep any realistic hope alive.
Uzbekistan national team coach Ravshan Haydarov has decided to name 13 players from league leaders Pakhtakor making it the biggest call-up from a single club in the history of Uzbekistan football.
However, Uzbekistan's hopes of lining-up their strongest side have been dented by the withdrawal of two key players through injury - Oleg Pashinin and Vladimir Maminov.
Two other key players who started against Iraq in their previous meeting in Tashkent in early February, defender Nikolay Shirshov from Rostov and midfielder Viktor Karpenko from Shinnik Yaroslavl are also missing from the final 22, leaving Uzbekistan to rely on Pakhtakor players Alexey Nikolaev on left wing and Vladislav Kiryan on midfield.
However, the Uzbekistan national team will face face Iraq in their biggest game since the 2004 Asian Cup quarter-final against Bahrain with five strikers, including recent Asian Cup stars Alexander Geynrikh and Vladimir Shishelov, Anvar Soliev of Pakhtakor, who scored the equalizer against Iraq in February, startlet Marat Bikmoyev, who recently joined Russian side Krilya Sovetov and Dynamo Kiev star Maksim Shatskikh.
Captain Mirdjalal Kasimov will need another inspired performance in midfield if Uzbekistan are to avoid a defeat that would see the veteran miss out on his final opportunity to play in the World Cup finals.
Iraq should prove tough opposition for the Uzbeks after their fine form of recent month. One of the most improved sides in Asian football, the Iraqis reached the Asian Cup quarter-finals and the Olympics semi-finals in Athens in recent months.
Uzbekistan squad
Goalkeepers: Alexey Polyakov (Krilya Sovetov/RUS), Evgeniy Safonov (Sinnik/RUS), Ignatiy Nesterov (Pakhtakor)
Defenders: Andrey Fyodorov (Rubin/RUS), Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov (Pakhtakor), Asror Aliqulov (Pakhtakor), Alexey Nikolaev (Pakhtakor), Vladimir Radkevich (Rotor/RUS)
Midfielders: Mirdjalal Kasimov (Alaniya/RUS), Andrey Akopyants (Rostov/RUS), Leonid Koshelev (Pakhtakor), Server Jeparov (Pakhtakor), Timur Kopadze (Pakhtakor), Vladislav Kiryan (Pakhtakor), Ildar Magdeev (Pakhtakor), Islom Inamov (Pakhtakor), Vyacheslav Ponomaryov (Pakhtakor)
Forwards: Vladimir Shishelov (Pakhtakor), Anvar Soliev (Pakhtakor), Marat Bikmoev (Krilya Sovetov/RUS), Alexander Geynrikh (CSKA/RUS), Maksim Shatskikh (Dynamo Kiev/UKR). (http://www.footballasia.com/en/comps/worldcup/index.asp?id=37062&cid=991&mth=10&yr=2004)