Home>>Sports
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Australia coach: we have chance to beat China

Australia assistant coach Kevin McCormack said Tuesday in Los Angeles that they enjoy a "fifty-fifty" chance to beat China in their World Cup Group D game on Thursday.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Australia assistant coach Kevin McCormack said Tuesday in Los Angeles that they enjoy a "fifty-fifty" chance to beat China in their World Cup Group D game on Thursday.

Australia, who lost to Russia 2-1 in their first group match last Sunday, must win Thursday's match to qualify for the quarterfinals.

McCormack said Australia had learned enough lessons from their defeat and will make some changes to their tactics.

"We are happy with our performance in the last game," he said. "We created a lot of chances. But we will not be naive again to push forward and leave lapse in the back."

He said the players are very confident that they can get results from China.

"Our confidence is best," McCormack said. "We don't think it's easy but we will go to the game considering a win."

When pressed by Chinese journalists how much chance Australia have to beat the Steel Roses, McCormack said: "Fifty-fifty. All the teams think they can win."

China beat the Green-and-Yellows twice in two friendlies at home in August, but McCormack said that was because several of their best players had missed out the matches.

"We can cause any team problems, including the United States and China," he said. "That will be a close game, we think we can win."

He added that the Australian coaching staff had watched China'smatch with Ghana and felt relieved that China's performance was not what they had expected.

"We will exploit any weakness China expose in Thursday's game,"he said.

And the Australian coach even knows that China skipper Sun Wen is not 100 per cent fit.

"We know Sun Wen is injured," he said. "We don't want to see any good player to be injured. Sun Wen is a player to be relied on.She is special."

McCormack believed that Ghana can get results from Russia and their chance will be increased to qualify.

"I think China and Australia can qualify from the Group," he said.




Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






China midfielder doubtful for Australia game at women's World Cup

Fomina shines as Russia beat Australia 2-1 in Women's World Cup



 


US slandering China as narcotics producer is groundless ( 3 Messages)

China trains government spokespersons ( 2 Messages)

Foreigners see social graces and disgraces in China ( 8 Messages)

Chinese tourists' unsocial behavior sparks concern at home ( 7 Messages)

Chinese Premier calls for improvement of rural education ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved