New faces fill in for absent stars in qualifier
China's new coach Vladimir Petrovic has sent strong signals that he plans to field many new faces in the team's 2010 World Cup first-round qualifier against Burma on Sunday.
In the latest scrimmage between the starters and the subs, there were players in many positions different from those fielded by former coach Zhu Guanghu.
"All the players here are showing passion and motivation for the coming match," said Petrovic, who took over the job just last month. "All the preparation is going very well because every one of them are fully involved in the daily training.
"They are all taking it seriously and we have very good improvement from the training."
Because China's two games against the less-fancied South Asian side fall outside of FIFA's international window, China has to play without some of its key Europe-based players, including Charlton Athletic playmaker Zheng Zhi and German Cottbus striker Shao Jiayi.
Manchester United teenaged striker Dong Fangzhuo and Manchester City midfielder Sun Jihai will be absent from the matches.
But Petrovic, who acts as the executive coach as per his one-year contract with China Football Association, shrugged off the absence of the overseas players, saying the domestic players on the squad are good enough.
"They are performing very well and I will use them during the first two matches. No further changes will be made unless there is serious injury.
"I know some very good players are not on the team right now. But I will not replace the recent players. They are good enough and I have to respect their hard work," the coach said.
Judging by the team fielded in scrimmage, goalkeeper Zong Lei from Tianjin, central back Du Wei and defender Xiao Zhanbo from Shanghai, Zhang Shui from Beijing, and Qu Bo from Qingdao will most likely start the first match. None of these players started during Zhu's tenure.
Petrovic's game plan focuses on teamwork and passing.
"We should use more short passes rather than long passes. We have very good skilled players," he said.
Petrovic is under the guidance of Ratomir Dujkovic, who is the manager of the national team and the national Olympic team and recommended his former Belgrade Red Star teammate to the CFA.
"(This team) is different from the one during the Asian Cup. That team lacked the hunger for victory. But this team under the new coach appears energetic and eager to compete against any team," said Dujkovic.
China Daily
(China Daily 10/19/2007 page22)
