The head coach of the Azerbaijani national football team, Gianni De Biasi, has announced the composition of the national team for the upcoming matches with Portugal, Qatar and Serbia.
Preparations for these games will begin on March 15.
The following 30 players have been invited to the national team:
goalkeepers – Emil Balayev (“Garabagh”), Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev (“Garabagh”), Mekhti Jannetov (“Sumgait”);
field players – Anton Krivotsuk, Emin Makhmudov, Namik Aleskerov (all – “Neftchi”), Elvin Jafarguliyev, Badavi Huseynov, Abbas Huseynov, Gara Garayev, Tural Bayramov, Ismail Ibragimli, Mahir Emreli (all – “Karabakh) Sertar Tashkin (“Zira”), Amin Seidiev, Tamkin Khalilzadeh, Bahlul Mustafazade, Alexey Isaev, Joshgun Diniev, Ramil Sheydayev (all – “Sabakh”), Shahriyar Aliyev, Azer Salahli (both – “Keshlya”), Tellur, El Mutallimov Badalov, Rahim Sadikhov, Khayal Najafov, Vugar Mustafayev, Ali Gurbani (all – “Sumgait”), Anatoly Nuriyev (“Minai”, Ukraine), Amil Yunanov (“Sabail”).
It is important to note that there is no team captain Maxim Medvedev in the roster. As the AFFA website reports, the Karabakh defender appealed to Gianni De Biazi, asking him not to call him to the national team for personal reasons. The Italian specialist responded positively to Medvedev’s request.
On March 24, the Azerbaijani national team will play in the Italian Turin against Portugal. This will be the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifier. On March 27, in Debrecen, Hungary, we will play with Qatar, who was invited to our qualifying group on an out-of-competition basis for a more fruitful preparation for the home World Cup. And finally, on March 30, Azerbaijan will host the Serbian national team in Baku. Let us remind you that Ireland and Luxembourg are also included in our group.