AFC Asian Cup Uzbekistan Ready For UAE 2019January 04 2019

Uzbekistan are raring to kick off their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Group F campaign.

Leading up to the biggest and best AFC Asian Cup, the White Wolves are looking forward to their opening match against Oman on January 9, says defender Anzur Ismailov.

Ismailov has the second most national team caps in the squad of 23 with 93 appearances and two goals to his name, and as Uzbekistan aim to make a mark in the 17th edition of the Continental showpiece, the 33-year-old Lokomotiv Tashkent player is confident of their chances against the West Asians.

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'We are looking forward to the start of the tournament,' said Ismailov (pictured below, centre).

'We have prepared seriously and in training, we have been giving attention to making quick attacks.'

Hector Cuper's side are aiming to better their fourth place finish in 2011, which is their best performance in the AFC Asian Cup.

They will be a force to be reckoned with, especially after Uzbekistan emerged champions in the 2018 AFC U23 Championship China.

Uzbekistan will play Turkmenistan in their second match at the Rashid Stadium on January 13, before taking on four-time champions Japan four days later at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium.