International
Asian Cup: Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s Oliy League hasn’t traditionally caught the imagination of the football world.
Traktor Tashkent, Metallurg Bekabad and Qyzylqum Zarafshan (try saying that after five lagers) aren’t your usual topics of debate in Rio, London or Tokyo.Yet this former Soviet republic is ranked fifth in Asia – ahead of the Saudis – and 53 in the world, 13 behind the Socceroos. And Uzbekistan reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup last time around.
Six of Inileev’s current squad ply their trade outside Uzbekistan, including midfielder Ilyas Zeytulaev, 23, for Italy’s Vicenza. Another Uzbekistani worth keeping an eye on is star striker Maksim Shatskikh, 29. However, the hitman will miss the vital opener with Iran after a red in their final qualifier.
That said, the Uzbeks have flattered to deceive this year. In March, they finished third in the four-team Alma TV Cup – Alma being a Kazakh cable TV company. Locking horns with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and host nation Kazakhstan, they ended third on four points.
Inileev blamed fitness after the 1-0 defeat to 123-ranked Azerbaijan. “Our central midfielders were exhausted as we had not managed a decent rest during winter.” Perhaps someone should tell him how hot it is in Kuala Lumpur? A 1-1 draw with the 143-ranked Kazakhs and a 6-0 thrashing of 145-ranked Kyrgyzstan, with Ulugbek Bakayev nabbing a hat-trick, rounded out their Cup jaunt.
Odd too was Uzbekistan’s World Cup 2006 qualifier against Bahrain. Uzbekistan beat Bahrain 1-0 in the home leg, but the Uzbekistan Football Federation (UFF) actually appealed the win and FIFA nullified the result. Why? Because of a bizarre refereeing error. The Japanese official disallowed an Uzbekistan penalty because of encroachment, but, mysteriously awarded Bahrain an indirect free kick instead of ordering the penalty to be retaken.
The UFF appealed as they thought FIFA may have awarded them a bigger win. The teams subsequently drew 1-1 in Tashkent and 0-0 in Manama, with Bahrain progressing to a play-off against Dwight Yorke’s Soca Warriors on away goals.
“Ancient villages meet staggering architecture in this mysterious, landlocked country,” explains Lonely Planet. And in a football sense, Uzbekistan is still a bit of a mystery – but a danger nonetheless.
FourFourTwo verdict
They should progress from the group and will be a tricky opponent in the quarters as they proved at Asian Cup 2004. Won’t go much further though.
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This article appeared in the July, 2007 issue of FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.
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