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Mamedov choice for Azerbaijan

Fizuli and Ramiz Mamedov are the surprise choices in Azerbaijan's squad to face Finland.

Fizuli Mamedov and Ramiz Mamedov were the two surprise names included in the Azerbaijan squad for their EURO 2004™ qualifier against Finland on 12 October.

Six-month absence
Ramiz Mamedov makes a return to the national team after a six-month absence while Fizuli Mamedov - no relation - who moved to Iran in August, was also thought to have lost his place under coach Vagyf Sadygov.

Gambarov dropped
Meanwhile, Elshan Gambarov from the Uzbekistan club FK Novbakhor has been excluded from the squad but may return for the qualifier against Wales in November. "Against Finland, we need defensive players," Sadygov said, "and Ramiz Mamedov with his excellent aerial ability will help us. I will look at Gambarov for the Wales game if he is on form."

Aim to be attacking
Azerbaijan play the Estonian champions, FC Flora, on Wednesday in Tallinn in a warm-up game before the Finland match. "We will pick our tactics according to the way the Finns play," Sadygov said. "We will more than likely play 4-5-1, which we used against the Italians [in their first EURO 2004™ qualifier last month which they lost 2-0], and, bar a few defensive mistakes, it was successful. Another problem is that we score too few goals, especially away from home. So we will look to be attacking."

Azerbaijan squad
Kramarenko, Mahammedov, Hasanzade, Yadullaev, Kerimov, Niftaliev, Sadygov, Agaev, F Mamedov, M Gurbanov, E Guliyev, Nabiev, K Guliyev, Aliyev, R Mamedov, Vasilyev, Ismaylov, G Gurbanov

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