Avazbek Ulmasaliev

Avazbek Ulmasaliev is a young Uzbek defender who has progressed through the domestic league, with stints at Neftchi, Lokomotiv, and Bunyodkor — one of the country's most supported clubs — before moving to Olmaliq. At 26, he is entering what should be his peak years and represents the kind of domestically developed talent that forms the backbone of Uzbekistan's squad. His experience at Bunyodkor, where expectations and scrutiny are higher than at most Uzbek clubs, will have sharpened his reading of the game. Whether he secures a regular starting role under Cannavaro will depend on how he handles the step up to World Cup-level opposition.