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)