Uzbekistan 2022: Know Your Group A Teams

Uzbekistan
How they qualified: Hosts
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: Champions (2018)
Head coach: Timur Kapadze
Qualifiers stats: Uzbekistan, who featured in the Qualifiers for exposure, scored 13 and conceded three goals in Group D.
Fun Fact: Uzbekistan had the most number of goals (7) scored from inside the box (tied with Korea Republic), across the four previous editions

Fixtures: 
Uzbekistan v Turkmenistan - June 1
Qatar v Uzbekistan - June 4
Uzbekistan v IR Iran - June 7

Goalkeepers: Abduvakhid Nematov (1), Vladimir Nazarov (12), Khamidullo Abdunabiev (21).

Defenders: Saidazamat Mirsaidov (2), Dostonbek Tursunov (3), Abubakr Rizo Turdialiev (4), Muhammadkodir Hamraliev (5), Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldoshev (6), Eldorbek Begimov (13), Odilbek Abdumajidov (15), Alibek Davronov (16), Abubakir Ashurov (18).

Midfielders: Hojimat Erkinov (7), Ibrokhim Ibragimov (8), Ulugbek Khoshimov (9), Jasurbek Jaloliddinov (10), Abbosbek Fayzullaev (14), Diyor Kholmatov (17), Abdurauf Buriev (23).

Forwards: Otabek Jurakuziyev (11), Ruslanbek Jiyanov (19), Khusain Norchaev (20), Alisher Odilov (22).

Islamic Republic of Iran
How they qualified: Group B winners
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2016)
Head coach: Mehdi Mahdavikia
Qualifiers stats: IR Iran scored nine and conceded two goals in winning Group B
Fun Fact: Forward Kaveh Rezaei was the top scorer in 2013 with five goals

Fixtures: 
IR Iran v Qatar - June 1
Turkmenistan v IR Iran - June 4
Uzbekistan v IR Iran - June 7

Squad (Jersey number)

Goalkeeper: Reza Kakhsaz (1), Payam Parsa (12), Parsa Jafari (22).

Defenders: Mahdi Hashemnezhad (2), Milad Kor (3), Saman Fallah (4), Amin Hazbavi (5), Mohammadmahdi Ahmadi (13), Amir Jafari Seighalani (14), Mohammad Ghorbani (16), Alireza Khodaei (18).

Midfielders: Alireza Bavieh (6), Mohammad Khodabandehlo (7), Mohammadhossien Zavvari (8), Yasin Salmani (10), Mohammadhossein Eslami (15), Yadegar Rostami (17), Belal Arazi (19), Erfan Shahriyarikhalaji (21), Arya Yousefi (23).

Forwards: Amirali Sadeghi (9), Ahmad Shariat Zadeh (11), Ali Javad Kalmarzy (20).

Qatar
How they qualified: Group A winners
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: 3rd Place (2018)
Head coach: Nicolas Cordova
Qualifiers stats: Qatar scored nine and conceded just one in winning Group A
Fun Fact: Qatar's Ahmed Alaa and Almoez Ali were the top scorers with six goals each in the 2016 and 2018 editions respectively

Fixtures: 

IR Iran v Qatar - June 1

Qatar v Uzbekistan - June 4

Qatar v Turkmenistan - June 7

Squad (Jersey number)

Goalkeepers: Mahmoud Ibrahim Abunada (1), Marwan Sherif Badreldin (21), Salah Zakaria (22).

Defenders: Ali Malolah (2), Diyab Haroon Taha (3), Mohamed Emad Aiash (4), Youssef Ayman Farahat (5), Abdulla Essa Al-Sulaiti (12), Mohammed Khalid (13), Jassem Gaber Abdulsallam (15), Ahmed Suhail (19).

Midfielders: Osamah Abdulkarim Altairi (6), Moustafa Tarek Mashal (8), Jassim Mohammed Al-Mehairi (11), Andri Syahputra (14), Faisal Mohammad (16), Khaled Walid Mansour (17), Ahmed Alganehi (20), Jassem Mohammed Alsharshani (23).

Forwards: Abdulrasheed Umaru (7), Yusuf Abdurisag (9), Hashim Ali (10), Mekki Tombari (18).

Turkmenistan
How they qualified: 3rd best runners-up
Debut Appearance
Head coach: Ahmet Agamyradow
Qualifiers stats: Turkmenistan scored three and conceded two in finishing second in Group F

Fixtures:

Uzbekistan v Turkmenistan, June 1

Turkmenistan v IR Iran - June 4

Qatar v Turkmenistan - June 7

Squad (Jersey number) 

Goalkeepers: Batyr Gaylyyev (1), Rustem Ahallyyev (16), Rasul Charyyev (22).

Defenders: Yhlas Toyjanov (2), Oraz Orazov (3), Vepa Jumayev (4), Roman Galkin (6), Ambyar Mahmudov (12), Dovran Berdiyev (15), Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev (19),  Begmyrat Arbatov (21).

Midfielders: Ruslan Tajiyev (5), Mirza Beknazarov (8), Meylis Diniyev (10), Teymur Charyyev (14), Rovshen Baylyyev (18), Hojanazar Gurbanov (20), Velmyrat Ballakov (23). 

Forwards: Rahman Myratberdiyev (7), Begenchmyrat Myradov (9), Shamammet Hydyrow (11), Arslan Saparov (13), Dayanch Meredov (17