Football in Oman has undergone a huge transformation in recent years and they finally stepped up to the big time in 2004 when they qualified for their first Asian Cup finals.

Oman built on their success and will again take their place in the 2007 edition after finishing second in the Group C qualifying group behind United Arab Emirates and ahead of 2004 Asian Cup quarter-finalists Jordan and Pakistan, with four victories and two defeats against the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Omani players catch the eye of a number of clubs and at least 12 now earn a living in the Qatar league while Ali Al Habsi, named the best keeper at the last two Gulf Cups, became the first man from the country to play in Europe and even secured a move to English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in July of 2005.

Oman's strength lies with their midfield, which includes Fawzi Bashir, who recently moved to Qatar league runners-up Al Gharafa, Al Siliya's Bader Al Maimani and the impressive Ismail Al Ajmi, who netted 12 goals with Al Shamal this season.

After leading them to a first appearance in the Asian Cup finals in 2004, Czech coach Milan Macala was again the mastermind behind Oman¡¯s qualification for this summer¡¯s finals but will not be in charge of the team when they kick off their campaign in Thailand in July.

Instead, Macala will be attempting to guide Bahrain through Group D in Indonesia while Argentinean coach Gabriel Calderon will be in the Oman hot seat after replacing his predecessor in April of this year.

Goalkeepers
1 Suleiman Al Mazroui
22 Sulaiman Al Shukaili
26 Ali Al Habsi
Defenders
2 Mohamed Rabia
3 Juma Al Wahaibi
4 Said Shoon
5 Fahad Ba Masilah
6 Issam Fayel
17 Hassan Yousuf
18 Hamed Hamdan Al Bulushi
19 Ahmed Salim
25 Khalifa Ayil
28 Hussain Ali Al Hadri
30 Mohammed Al Balushi
Midfielders
7 Sultan Al Touqi
10 Fawzi Basheer
12 Ahmed Mubarak
13 Mohamed Saleh Al Ghassani
16 Ahmed Al Busaifi
21 Ahmed Hadid
23 Mohamed Ashoor
24 Younis Mubarak
27 Humid Al Gheilani
Forwards
8 Badar Mubarak
9 Hashim Saleh
11 Yousuf Sha'ban
14 Younis Al Mushaifri
15 Ismail Al Ajmi
20 Imad Ali
29 Mohamed Mubarak