Milutinovic Relaxed Before China's First World Cup Match

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Milutinovic Relaxed Before China's First World Cup Match

As the most experienced coach in World Cup finals, Bora Milutinovic is quite relaxed before his Chinese team's first ever World Cup match against Costa Rica on June 4.

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As the most experienced coach in World Cup finals, Bora Milutinovic is quite relaxed before his Chinese team's first ever World Cup match against Costa Rica on June 4.

Milutinovic had led four teams to the World Cup finals, and all the four teams, Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States and Nigeria,all advanced into the second round.

Many soccer experts assert that Costa Rica is the only team in Group C which China has a chance of beating. Group C also includes four-time world champion Brazil and European side Turkey.

Milutinovic was reluctant to predict how long China will go in its first ever World Cup, but hinted several times that reach the round of 16 "is not something impossible".

After Wednesday's training session, Milutinovic said he was quite familiar with the Costa Rican team.

"It is not a new experience because we played them so many times when I was coaching the United States and Mexico. They are my friends and I know them well." Milutinovic said.

Milutinovic said it was hard to compare China and Costa Rica: "Costa Rica are very good technically. But I think China have different quality physically."

"(For the two teams) everything is different and everything is possible. The greatest difference is they have three million people, China has more than 400 times more." Milutinovic said.

According to South Korean organisers, at least 30,000 Chinese fans will travel to South Korea to support their team and that would probably make the Gwangju world Cup Stadium home ground for the Chinese team. Only 1,000 Costa Ricans are expected to travel to South Korea this week.

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