Alexander Geynrikh: "2006 Germany is my goal"

FIFAworldcup.com November 8 The date was 22 July, 2004. Uzbekistan lined-up against Saudi Arabia in the Sichuan Football Centre, Chengdu, China, in the second group match of Asian Cup. They were looking to avenge their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the three-time Asian champions in Lebanon four years ago, but few expected that the job would be done by a teenager. However 19-year-old Alexander Geynrikh scored the only goal after only 13 minutes. The CSKA Moscow striker took possession in midfield, raced down left before beating defender Hamad Al Montashari and blasted the ball home from 25 meters. His solo goal secured the victory for his side, and a place in the quarter-finals. Audacious scorer One day before the exciting encounter, a Saudi journalist came to Geynrikh asking for his prediction of the match. "2-0 to my team, and I will score both goals." His confidence and ease impressed the journalist, who later on wrote in a story "this is my first time meeting a player with such great self-belief." But this was certainly not the first time Geynrikh showed his finishing genius before a watching world. In last year s FIFA World Youth Championship at UAE, he stunned Argentina in the second group match as he put his team ahead after only five minutes with a superb free-kick. In the opening group meeting with Mali, he scored an equalizer in the second half but Mali went through with a last-minute strike. His prowess in front of goal was proved again in the all-important FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifier with Iraq on 13 October 2004. He sealed the victory by scoring the second goal for his side, sending Uzbekistan through to the qualifying finals. "We have done a good job in the previous qualifiers and I believe we will do better in the final qualifying stage. My team have rarely impressed since winning gold in Asian Cup 1994 and now it is the time," he confidently told FIFAworldcup.com. "Our dream is 2006 Germany and we will make it." Raised from famous pedigree Born in Angren close to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Geynrikh cut his teeth under the guise of famous youth coach Bekir Zeytullayev at Angren Football School then he was sent to the Olympic Reserve School. His school mates included current Juventus midfielder Ilyas Zeytullayev, coach Zeytullayev's son. After a year s hard training, Geynrikh developed into a powerful forward of 182 cm and 71 kg. Alongside his best friend Zeytullayev, he attracted the attention of the top clubs of the country. In 2002 he signed with Paktakor, the three-time champion of the Uzbekistan league. In his one-year stint with the club, he played 34 times and scored nine goals as a teenager, which earned him the award of Uzbekistan Footballer of the Year. His talents were not neglected by Jurgen Gede, German coach of the Uzbekistan youth team, who picked him in 2002. His belief in the promising player soon paid off as Geynrikh scored seven goals in the 12 AFC Youth Championship preliminaries, which also serve as qualifiers for the FIFA World Youth Championship. In the last do-or-die qualifier with Qatar, Geynrikh s hat-trick sent his side through to grab a spot at UAE 2003. Great expectations The prodigy's talents were spotted even before he moved to Russian league powerhouses CSKA Moscow. At the end of 2002 he had a one-week trial with Bundesliga side Bochum but he later rejected a half-season move on-loan and then joined CSKA Moscow in January of 2003. "In Bochem I would have to spend much time learning a new language and adapting to the new environment, while in Moscow I have only one thing to do - concentrate on football. I am still young and need to improve my skills before moving to the top European clubs," he explained. But he revealed his dream of joining his best friend Zeytullayev at Juventus saying, "He is my best friend as we were trained and educated by his father together and grew up together. We had a lot of good times together. I hope one day we can be reunited." And for a young man as talented as Geynrikh, there may be no dreams which are impossible to realize.