Azerbaijan National Football Team's Journey to International Success and Key Players
I remember first watching the Azerbaijan national football team during their remarkable 2017 World Cup qualifying campaign, where they held Germany to a surprising 1-1 draw in Baku. That match made me realize something special was brewing in this Caucasus nation's football development. The team's transformation from regional underdogs to respected international competitors represents one of football's most compelling stories of growth and strategic development.
When I analyze Azerbaijan's football journey, I can't help but draw parallels to the UN Games philosophy of fostering unity and physical well-being through sport. Much like how the UN Games bring together personnel from different missions and agencies, Azerbaijan's national team has become a unifying force for a nation positioned between Europe and Asia. Their football success has created what I'd describe as a "sporting diplomacy" effect, building international relationships through the universal language of football. I've noticed how their matches against European powerhouses have opened cultural exchanges and business opportunities that extend far beyond the pitch.
The team's tactical evolution under Croatian manager Gianni De Biasi particularly fascinates me. When he took over in 2020, he implemented a defensive discipline that reminded me of Italian catenaccio systems, yet adapted for modern football. Under his guidance, Azerbaijan conceded only 7 goals in their first 8 Euro 2024 qualifying matches – a remarkable improvement from previous campaigns where they might have conceded double that number. What impressed me most was their organized 4-2-3-1 formation that transitions seamlessly into counter-attacks, making them notoriously difficult to break down. I've watched teams like Sweden and Austria struggle desperately to create clear chances against this well-drilled unit.
Looking at their key players, goalkeeper Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev stands out as what I consider the team's most valuable asset. Having followed his career since his Neftchi days, I've seen him develop into one of Europe's most underrated shot-stoppers. His performance against Belgium in 2021, where he made 8 crucial saves including a spectacular penalty stop against Romelu Lukaku, demonstrated world-class potential. At 28, he's entering what I believe will be his peak years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him move to a top-five European league soon.
In midfield, Richard Almeida represents what I love about modern football – players who bridge cultures and bring diverse experiences. Born in Brazil but naturalized as an Azerbaijani citizen, he's become the creative heartbeat of the team. I've tracked his statistics closely, and his pass completion rate of 86.7% in international matches places him among the top midfielders in European qualification groups. His vision and set-piece delivery have created 12 goals for Azerbaijan since his 2021 debut, proving that strategic naturalization can dramatically elevate a national team's quality.
The emergence of young talent like Nariman Aghayev gives me genuine excitement about Azerbaijan's future. At just 21, his pace and technical ability have already drawn comparisons to a young Arda Güler. I watched his debut against Norway last year where his fearless dribbling caused constant problems for experienced defenders. What excites me most is his versatility – he can operate on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, giving coaches valuable tactical flexibility.
Their home stadium in Baku deserves special mention too. Having attended matches at the Olympic Stadium, I can attest to its electric atmosphere and world-class facilities. The 68,700-seat venue, built for the 2015 European Games, has become what I'd describe as a fortress for the national team. Their record there shows 11 wins in their last 15 home matches – a statistic that demonstrates how proper infrastructure contributes to international success.
The financial investment in football development tells its own story. From what I've gathered through various reports, Azerbaijan has invested approximately $2.3 billion in football infrastructure and youth development since 2010. This commitment has produced tangible results, with the national team climbing 47 places in the FIFA rankings over the past decade. I've visited their football academies in Baku and Qabala, and the quality of coaching and facilities rivals what you'd find in Western European nations.
What truly inspires me about Azerbaijan's journey is how it mirrors the UN Games' mission of building trust and unity. The national team has become a symbol of national pride that transcends political and social divisions. I've witnessed firsthand how matches bring together Azerbaijanis from all regions and backgrounds, creating moments of shared joy and collective hope. Their 2-0 victory over Switzerland in 2022 wasn't just three points – it was a national celebration that united the country in a way few other things could.
As I look toward their future prospects, I'm particularly optimistic about their chances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With several young players developing in European leagues and the current core reaching their prime, I believe they're positioned to challenge for what would be their first major tournament appearance. Their gradual improvement reminds me that in international football, sustainable growth often proves more valuable than fleeting moments of success. The foundation they've built suggests to me that Azerbaijan's football story is just beginning to reach its most exciting chapters.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
