Djeparov was just 21 when he made his AFC Asian Cup debut in China in 2004 as the Uzbeks made the last eight for the first time after winning their three group games, only to fall to Bahrain after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Three years later, following the retirement of Uzbek legend Mirdjalal Kasimov, he was the playmaker and vice-captain of the team that travelled to Southeast Asia and made it to the quarter-finals once again after demolishing China 3-0 in their final m atch of the group stage. But luck once again deserted the central Asians in the knockout stage as they lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in Jakarta despite dominating the game and missing a host of chances.

Now 28, Djeparov is reluctant to talk about his previous AFC Asian Cup campaigns.

“I don’t remember those games,” he says dismissively. “I try to forget them and I care only about this tournament.”

But while he refuses to discuss those games, there is little doubt that those past failures have only increased the hunger for Djeparov and Uzbekistan to win the Asian title.

That has been clear to see in the way that Vadim Abramov’s side have marched through to the semi-finals in Doha, dispatching Jordan 2-1 in the quarter-finals after topping a group that included hosts Qatar, East Asian champions China and West Asian and Gulf Cup champions Kuwait.

“What can I say about this team? We have more experience now and we’re happy that we have qualified for the semi-finals after going out in the quarter-finals in the last two championships,” he says.

“We have very good spirit after finally going through to the semi-finals at our third attempt and I think that it will help us in our semi-final against Australia.

“If we can compare this tournament to the last two, we are feeling more comfortable and more patient. The mood of our players is very good now and after winning our games here, we believe in ourselves and we have started to work harder and to play with more confidence.”

A notable difference in the current Uzbekistan squad is that Djeparov has now taken over the captain’s armband despite the inclusion of his predecessor, striker Maksim Shatskikh. But the midfielder insists that there is no friction between the two players and that he is proud of taking up the responsibility of skippering the side.

“I don’t see any problem with Maksim. It was a decision of our coach and we still have good relations even now as teammates,” he says.

“It’s all good for me and I feel no pressure from the fans or from my teammates about being the captain. We have a good mixture of experienced and young players in our squad and I feel that we are a good, complete team.

“I am happy about holding the position and I am trying to help out my teammates as much as possible.”

Named Asian Player of the Year in 2008, Djeparov now has the chance to lead Uzbekistan to their first AFC Asian Cup final and their first major title since they won the gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.

It would continue an excellent run of success for the talented Uzbek playmaker, who helped Uzbek side Bunyodkor and Korean side FC Seoul to win league titles in 2010.

Having spent his entire club career in Uzbekistan before his loan move to FC Seoul in the latter half of the year, Djeparov feels that the move abroad has done him plenty of good as a player.

“I feel better about myself after playing in the K-League,” says Djeparov, who has won eight Uzbek league titles with Pakhtakor and Bunyudkor.

“It is a tougher league to play in because each game is very important and you have to battle hard against your opponent. But I think it has helped me to develop myself as a player and to achieve something new for myself.”

With his loan spell with the Korean club now over, Djeparov has yet to decide where he will be playing after the AFC Asian Cup although he appears keen to continue his career outside Uzbekistan.

“I still do not know where I will be playing after the tournament but I know for sure that I will not be going back to Bunyodkor,” he concludes.