AT A GLANCE: China

by FOXSports.com

Updated: May 15, 2002, 11:55 AM EST

G Jiang Jin, Tianjin Talia (CHN)
D Fan Zhiyi, Dundee United (SCO)
D Li Wiefeng, Shenzhen Kejian (CHN)
D Sun Jihai, Manchester City (ENG)
M Yu Genwei, Tianjin Taida (CHN)
M Ma Mingyu, Sichuan Dahe (CHN)
M Qu Bo, Qingdao Beer (CHN)
M Li Tie, Liaoning Fushun (CHN)
M Xie Hui, Aachen (GER)
F Hao Haidong, Dalian Shide (CHN)
F Yang Chen, Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)

MILUTINOVIC HOPING FOR FIVE IN A ROW

After years of trying, the nation over a billion people call home have produced a squad of players good enough to qualify for the World Cup. Not only that, they qualified with some ease, winning twelve of their fourteen games and conceding a mere five goals.

It should be said, however, that the stiffest opposition they have faced thus far has been the United Arab Emirates. Lying in wait this summer is a whole world that Chinese football has never experienced before.

Naturally, expectations are very low this summer, just the fact that they are at the world cup is already enough, and more than they have ever achieved before.

They have been drawn in Group C, which pits them against Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica, and despite the fact that they are considered highly unlikely to advance beyond this group they have sold out all of their games already, and could have done so many times over.

More than anything else, their presence at this World Cup gives them the platform to sow football deeper into the Chinese culture than it has ever been.

Opinions vary on what would rank as a good world cup for China, mostly ranging from not disgracing themselves to an unlikely victory over Turkey or Costa Rica. While they are good enough not to be thrashed out of sight this summer, they are not likely to make any major inroads into the championship.

The current Chinese manager is something of a minor legend in World Cup history. Bora Milutinovic, who took over two years ago and guided China through the qualifiers, has managed four different teams at the last four World Cups ? Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, the USA in 1994 and Nigeria in 1998, all of whom he took to the knockout stages.

Should he continue that trend with China, it will arguably be a greater feat than anything he has achieved previously.

Having previously coached two host nations in Mexico and the USA, he knows all about World Cup pressure, yet this time around he is likely to be under less than he has ever known.

Hardly any of their players are known beyond the boundaries of their own country, and only a handful ply their trade overseas.

The most famous of these, the current darling of the fans and more importantly lynchpin of the defence, is Fan Zhiyi who plays for Dundee in Scotland. He will have to play above himself at the back to keep China competitive. Playing behind him in goal is the monstrous frame of Jiang Jin, over two metres tall and a commanding presence.

It is in midfield that many feel China will struggle. Star amongst them is Ma Mingyu, who is back playing in China after failing to settle in Perugia, although he has since been overshadowed by the emergence of Qi Hong, a revelation in the qualifiers and the most creative option available to Milutinovic.

Li Tie, who plays for the dominant team in China, Dalian Shide, will have his work cut out as the holding midfield player.

In attack, it would seem that China have far more options. Two of their strikers, Xie Hui and Yang Chen, play in the Bundesliga, for Aachen and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively. Both scored important goals during qualifying.

The main man up front, though, is now Hao Haidong. One of the best strikers the continent has produced in recent years, he returned from exile after numerous run-ins with coaches and the football authorities to spearhead the national team once again. Having never left the domestic league, at 31 this will be his one and only chance to shine on a global stage, assuming he stays out of trouble from now until June.

China will begin their first ever World Cup against Costa Rica on 4th June. It is just another day at the office for Bora Milutinovic, but a giant leap for Chinese football.