China seeks 2018 World Cup boost against Syria
Print Edition
AMBITIOUS China and 2022 host Qatar will come out fighting as they seek to salvage their bids to reach the 2018 Russia World Cup today.
China, with one point from its two games so far, entertains war-torn Syria in Xian, while rock-bottom Qatar has it all to do against Son Heung-Min’s South Korea.
China has set its sights on bringing the World Cup back to Asia by 2030, but first it wants to add to its sole, and goalless, appearance at the tournament in 2002.
China lost to South Korea 2-3 in the opening fixture and drew with Iran 0-0, while Syria lost 0-1 to group leader Uzbekistan but drew 0-0 against South Korea.
Despite being winless, China has been encouraged by its games, recovering from 0-3 down to pump in two goals against South Korea after a late resurgence, but was unable to find an equalizer.
Head coach Gao Hongbo will be looking for creativity from Zhang Yuning, who plays for FC Vitesse and is the only foreign-based player in the squad. The 19-year-old will be hoping to continue his strong start to international football that has brought two goals from three caps.
Gao can also call upon more senior strikers in Yang Xu and Gao Lin, who are among the top 10 scorers in their country’s history.
Qatar is scrambling to reach its first World Cup before it hosts the tournament in 2022, but a third straight defeat would leave its chances remote.
It is also dealing with internal turmoil after Jose Daniel Carreno was sacked and replaced earlier this month with fellow Uruguayan Jorge Fossati.
“I believe that Qatar can qualify. It will be very, very difficult but I am optimistic,” said the 63-year-old Fossati, before flying to South Korea.
Asian champion Australia has strolled through its first two games but it hasn’t been plain sailing for the region’s other World Cup regulars.
Japan, stunned 1-2 by UAE in its first game, hit back by beating Thailand and it will be strong favorites when it takes on Iraq in Saitama.
South Korea was surprisingly held 0-0 by Syria in its second outing but it will be expected to blow a giant hole in Qatar’s World Cup bid in Suwon.
The top two in each of the six-strong Groups A and B will book their places in Russia, while the two third-placed teams head into a play-off series.
Elsewhere, Spain will be out for revenge when it plays old rival Italy in Turin. Italy beat Spain 2-0 in the round of 16 at the European Championship to end its bid for a third consecutive continental title.
Germany’s Joachim Loew is giving his players time to recover from intensive weeks with their respective clubs for Saturday’s game against the Czech Republic.
France, which was runner up at Euro 2016, drew its Group A opener away to Belarus. It hosts Bulgaria before an away match against the Netherlands.
Portugal faces European minnows Faeroe Islands and Andorra.
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