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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 18, 2002

Milutinovic Has New Dream for World Cup

Having led China to its first World Cup finals, head coach Bora Milutinovic is dreaming of the next big thing--


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The Happiest Day: Bora Milutinovic
"Though we realize the dream of making the 2002 World Cup finals, we should have a new dream,"said Milutinovic on Wednesday at a training camp based in Kunming, Southwest of China.

He made the remarks when China kicked off its preparation for this year's World Cup finals to be co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

As a newcomer in the premier soccer tournament, China is not fancied in a group which also features Brazil, Costa Rica and Turkey.

But Milutinovic, who is the only coach to lead five different teams into the World Cup finals, said that China should do its best whatever the rivals are.

"We had cherished a dream (of making the finals), now it came true. So we should have a new dream and work hard to turn it into reality. In this way can the football bring us happiness,"he said.

"Keep the form"
Though only 23 players will enter the final roster for the World Cup, Milutinovic has called as many as 33 players for the training camp.

"Now there is intense competition in the national team,"said the coach."When defining the final list, what counts most is their forms."

"As long as we work as a team, and keep the form which ensured our success in the world cup qualification, we are sure to achieve satisfying performances(in the coming World Cup),"he added.



Milutinovic on the Chinese soccer team in World Cup Finals
  • "Now I only want to enjoy this moment, the happiest moment in my career."


    • "It is dangerous to count chicken before they are hatched. Even before this game, fans began to celebrate our victory. This brought some bad psychological influence to my players. So their performance today was a little abnormal."

    "It is premature for us to talk about that (China's chance in the finals), everybody here knows that China is not a strong team. Asia is rather backward in soccer. And other Asian teams performed not so well in the World Cup finals."

    -- China Reaches World Cup Finals after 44-year Odyssey



  • "In my opinion, titles like 'miraculous coach' are used to conclude a late man's life achievements, instead for me, who is still alive. So it is better not to call me that in the future."


    • "When I came here, China was ranked 86th in the world and now it should be within the top 32. I am very happy about it."

    --Milutinovic Declines "Miraculous Coach" Title



  • "This result is fine, I am very happy about it."


    • --Milutinovic Satisfied with China's World Cup Draw



  • "For the Chinese team, to reach the finals is by no means inferior to win the title. In this sense, China has won the World Cup."


    • "China has more advantages than disadvantages. Although it is rather difficult for the Chinese team to have super stars like other national teams, it is still a pretty good team. Besides, soccer games are collective sports. To tell the truth, I was very much astonished to see China reach the finals two rounds ahead of schedule."

    "Brazil possesses the most excellent players in the world. It is almost impossible for us to defeat Brazil. We should not bear such a kind of wild dream."

    --China Has its Own Advantages in World Cup Games







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