Group C

CHINA
Dong Fangzhuo
The nearly man of Chinese football, Dong has long been touted as the man to lead the revolution and drag China into the football elite. The first Chinese player to sign for Manchester United, in 2004, the 22-year-old was sent on loan to United’s affiliate club Royal Antwerp in Belgium after being denied a UK work permit. This year he finally joined United full-time, but is only on the fringe of the first team.
With just one international goal so far, it’s now or never for Dong.

IRAN
Andranik Teymourian
Having represented Iran at every youth level before joining the national team, “Ando” was hand picked by Big Sam to join Bolton after a solid performance in the World Cup. He learned English within months and joined Bolton’s starting line-up even more quickly. Young and intelligent, his accurate shooting from midfield will be a constant danger to Iran’s opponents.

MALAYSIA
Azlan Ismail
The pearl from Perlis, Ismail has been in wicked form with MSL side Perlis recently, netting five goals in two consecutive domestic fixtures. The Kelantan-born goal merchant, if given the right service, is the most likely outlet for any Malaysian joy.

UZBEKISTAN
Maksim Shatskikh
Shakskikh arrived at Dynamo Kyiv in 1999 replacing some bloke called Andriy Shevchenko, scoring 20 goals in his first season. One of Uzbekistan’s most-capped players, he finished second in the 2005 AFC Asian Player of the Year voting and is a consistent scorer in the Ukraine.