China have been drawn in Group E of the Asian Cup 2007 qualifying
round along with Palestine, Singapore and Iraq.
The draw was held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The Chinese national soccer team, coached by Zhu Guanghu, will
begin with a home match against Palestine on February 22, then
travel to Iraq in March before another home fixture against
Singapore in August. Then it's Singapore away, Palestine away and
Iraq at home.
"It's a good draw for China," said Zhang Jilong, vice president
of the China Football Association (CFA), who believes Zhu's team
and Iraq will progress from Group E and qualify for the finals of
the competition.
"Of our opponents, only Iraq are strong. With this draw we
look sure to go through and the group games will be very nice with
the competition between China and Iraq.
"But we're not afraid of being in the same group as South Korea,
Australia and Saudi Arabia. If we want to qualify for the next
World Cup we will have to face these teams sooner or later," he
said.
China are seen as clear favorites to win the group and qualify
for the Asian Cup 2007 finals, which take place in Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam from July 7 to 29, 2007.
(Sinosoc.com January 5,
2006)
