Azeri name squad for U21s encounter
Thursday, 25 August, 2011
Everton player features in Azerbaijan squad for Watford clash.
Tickets are still available at just £10 for adults and £5 for children by clicking here or calling 0844 856 1881 .
Azerbaijan have named their squad to meet England Under-21s at Watford in their opening game of the Euro 2013 qualifying campaign next Thursday.
The Three Lions last played the Azeri in June 2009, winning that friendly encounter 7-0, but Stuart Pearce's new-look squad will expect a much harder encounter at Vicarage Road with three points up for grabs.
Manager Bernhard Lippert, who was in charge of the side for the meeting in Milton Keynes two years ago, has named an Everton player in his 22-man-squad.
Although yet to make any first-team appearances Araz Abdullayez played for the Toffees in pre-season, but has since gone out on loan to Greek side PAOK FC.
Abdullayev, who also played in the previous game against England, became youngest player to feature for Azerbaijan’s senior team when he made his debut at 16 years 4 months against Finland in a World Cup Qualifier in 2008. He now has three full caps.
Squad in full
Goalkeepers
Osman Umarov (Garabag), Salahat Aghayev (Inter), Emil Balayev (Sumgayit City)
Defenders
Tarlan Guliyev (Neftchi), Gara Garayev (Garabag), Novruz Mammadov (Baki), Farrukh Rahimov (Ravan), Mikhail Zaytsev (Anji, Russia), Haji Ahmadov (Sumgayit City)
Midfielders
Mirhuseyn Seyidov (Neftchi), Eshgin Guliyev (Sumgayit City), Emin Mustafayev (Sumgayit City), Javid Imamverdiyev (Neftchi), Kamil Nurahmadov (Sumgayit City), Araz Abdullayev (POAK, Greece), Amit Guluzada (Erciyyespor, Turkey), Badavi Huseynov (Anji, Russia), Aleksandr Gross (Sumgayit City)
Forwards
Tural Isgandarov (Garabag), Orkhan Hasanov (Sumgayit City), Jihan Ozkara (Sivasspor, Turkey), Ali Gokdamir (Hannover 96, Germany)
To follow England Under-21s in the build up to the game, and their fixture at Barnsley on 5 September, log on to TheFA.com, follow at www.twitter.com/thefadotcom or like at www.facebook.com/EnglandU21s
England face Azerbaijan in their opening Group 8 encounter at Watford on Thursday 1 September (7.30pm BST) with tickets still available at just £10 for adults and £5 for children by calling 0844 856 1881 or click here to book.