China Eager to Win Soccer Opener over Turkmenistan in Busan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 27, 2002

China Eager to Win Soccer Opener over Turkmenistan in Busan

China are confident to win their soccer opener in the Busan Asian Games despite probable tough challenges from their Turkmenistan rivals, said the Chinese soccer team head coach Thursday.

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China are confident to win their soccer opener in the Busan Asian Games despite probable tough challenges from their Turkmenistan rivals, said the Chinese soccer team head coach Thursday.

To tune up for the soccer tournament, which will kick off two days prior to the official opening of the Asiad, coach Shen Xiangfu had his U-21 squad trained for the first time at the Gudeok Main Stadium, where China will meet their first opponent Turkmenistan Friday afternoon.

"We have a very good preparation for tomorrow's game, and we are looking forward to the first win for China," said Shen, "We have enough confidence."

"To tell the truth, we are familiar with the rivals. And they are familiar with us. Turkmenistan, like other mid-Asian countries, are physically strong enough. It will be a tough game in my view," added the coach.

No match would be a piece of cake for China, said Chinese soccer team manager Yan Shiduo as he led the Chinese squad for its training on Thursday.

Yan stressed that China will pay great attention to every match, including relatively easier games in the preliminaries in the tournament.

"We have lost too many so-called easy games, that's why I tell my players to be ready for any tough challenges from every team. We have to take every game seriously and strive for a berth in the semifinals," said Yan.

China, the hot favorites in Group C, will also face Bangladesh and India after their first match against Turkmenistan on Friday.

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