China go into the Asian Cup urgently needing to pull out of a
dizzying free-fall after a series of embarrassing results which
have sent coach Zhu Guanghu heading for the exit.
Any optimism from finishing second in 2004 has long evaporated
with China, soundly beaten by Australia and the United States and
even humbled by Thailand in warm-up matches, told only a semi-final
place will save Zhu's job.
With key players either clubless or uncertain of weekly starting
spots, China are up against it in a tough Group C featuring
three-times champions Iran, co-hosts Malaysia and Uzbekistan,
Asia's fifth-ranked team.
Their backs to the wall, Zhu said his players were "going crazy"
in training as they bid to make amends on the big stage, starting
on July 10 against co-hosts Malaysia.
"They are going crazy during training. They are shouting and
screaming at each other and trying to encourage each other. It's
amazing," Zhu said.
Captain Zheng Zhi also voiced hope China, despite results like
the 4-1 thrashing by the United States, would turn it on against
Asian opposition.
"I know that the national squad have shown some indifferent form
in the past few friendlies but we are still on the right track and
I believe we will be fully prepared when the Asian Cup starts,"
Zheng said.
"I am hopeful of reaching the semi-finals or even the final and
will be doing my utmost to help the national team achieve that
goal."
Despite the bullish words it's a far cry from 2004, when on home
soil China were beaten to their first title 3-1 by Japan -- whose
'hand of Koji Nakata' second goal triggered demonstrations by
thousands of angry fans.
Many assumed China, who had made their World Cup debut two years
earlier, were on their way to becoming a regional football
powerhouse.
But instead they have made a great leap backwards, failing to
reach last year's World Cup under Arie Haan and slipping to 76th in
the FIFA rankings since Zhu took over in early 2005.
Frustrations boiled over in March when Zhu's car was attacked by
dozens of furious fans as he left a match. After the 1-0 defeat to
Thailand in May, and with the Asian Cup looming, he was told to
reach the last four "or else."
With Iran odds-on to make the top two, China's July 18 shoot-out
with Uzbekistan is shaping up as the crunch fixture in the
tournament's 'group of death.'
While there is no shortage of talent, many of China's top
players are unsettled with captain Zheng leaving relegated Charlton
Athletic and defender Sun Xiang shown the door by PSV
Eindhoven.
Youthful forward Dong Fangzhuo recently made his Manchester
United debut but Du Wei's Celtic stint proved short-lived and Li
Tie's Sheffield United have dropped a division, leaving Manchester
City's Sun Jihai as the only Premier League regular.
Although China's pedigree should see them to the knock-out
phase, their biggest problem appears to be a lack of cohesion and
tactical nous, for which Zhu takes full responsibility.
"My head is on the block but I don't care as long as the
pressure is on me and not on the team," Zhu said. "If they play
well or badly, it's down to me."
Football is hugely popular in China but, unlike other sports,
achievements have yet to match expectations with the troubled
domestic league plagued by corruption and crowd problems.
The team will count on strong support in Malaysia, where a
sizeable ethnic Chinese community will be optimistic that the slump
cannot last forever.
(China Daily via Agencies July 4, 2007)