The Uzbeks are scheduled to take on Qatar in the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ Finals on January 7 next year. They also face Kuwait and China.

“Our goal is of course to win the tournament,” said Abramov. “The Uzbekistan national team aim to win all the tournaments they take part in.

“We have to play Qatar but everyone knows that to win this kind of tournament, you cannot fail to meet strong teams along the way.

“We will now develop a training plan and organise some friendly matches as we prepare for the tournament.”

At the 2007 tournament, the Uzbeks reached the quarter-finals before losing out to eventual finalists Saudi Arabia.