Bahrain friendly kicks off run-up to Asian Cup
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The rebuilding Chinese national soccer team is set to launch its preparations for a crucial stretch of matches with the first of a series of friendlies.
The national team kicks off its first warm-up match following the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday when it hosts Bahrain in Nanning, Guangxi province.
China, which is eager to return to the elite level in Asia and earn its second World Cup berth in 2014, is expected to take all of its upcoming friendlies seriously.
China has called up winger Hao Junmin of Bundesliga club Schalke, while a number of chief officials are also expected to attend.
Hao, the only Chinese player currently plying his trade in one of Europe's top four leagues, will fly to and from China in the space of a mere four days.
Head coach Gao Hongbo insists Bahrain is one of the leading teams in Asia and a friendly will test the current level of his side.
"Bahrain finished fifth in the past two World Cup qualifiers in Asia. Such an achievement proves it is a strong team in Asia," Gao said. "After the match on Wednesday, we can see where we are now in the region."
Asia had four automatic places for South Africa, while Bahrain had to face Oceania champion New Zealand in a playoff for the final berth, which the Asian side lost.
China's only World Cup appearance was in 2002, thanks in part to the automatic qualification of co-hosts Japan and South Korea.
Since then, China, currently 78th in the FIFA world rankings, has struggled to come close to qualifying for the World Cup again.
"We will know our Asian rivals better after a number of scheduled friendlies. We will also see what our problems are," Gao said.
"We will have the Asian Cup next year and we will have World Cup qualifiers. Every match from now on will provide very good experience and a test for us."
Gao said he asked Hao to play on Wednesday because he will have few opportunities to play for China once the German league starts.
"He is an important player for us, and I hope this will give him the time to get better acquainted with the other Chinese players," he said.
Hao, usually a winger, will play as a solo striker against Bahrain as China tries to emulate the system of world champion Spain.
Former Austria manager Josef Hickersberger's 22-man Bahrain squad, which is ranked 69th by FIFA, consists mostly of home-based players with only three members playing for clubs overseas - Sayed Mohammed Adnan, Hussain Baba and Abdulla Fatai.
