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Japan, China out to stamp early mark at Asian Cup
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-21 06:45
SINGAPORE: The long road to the Asian Cup finals gets under way tomorrow with
defending champions Japan plotting to crush India and 2004 runner-up China
aiming for an equally convincing rout of the Palestinians.
China National team
are during a training session with coach Zhu Guanghu watching beside.
[Sina] | Asia's five World Cup-bound teams are all
in action with South Korea travelling to Syria, Iran at home against Chinese
Taipei and Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
World Cup debutant Australia, playing in its first Asian Cup campaign after
joining the Asian Football Confederation in January, faces a tricky assignment
in Bahrain, who shocked everyone by making the semi-finals in 2004.
The ultimate goal of the 24 teams playing tomorrow is the finals in July next
year jointly hosted by Thailand, Viet Nam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"This team is strong enough to beat any team," warned Japan coach Zico, who
is using the qualifiers as vital preparation for the World Cup in June.
None of Japan's European-based stars, including Bolton midfielder Hidetoshi
Nakata and Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura, are available, with the team made up of
J-League players.
South Korea, under Dick Advocaat, go into their match against Syria buoyed by
a 1-0 win over World Cup qualifiers Mexico and with plenty of match practice
after a nine-game overseas tour.
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