Soccer: Asian teams prepare to take centre stage

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Home soil advantage is more than countered by dismal tournament records for co-hosts Japan and South Korea as Asia takes centre stage at its own soccer World Cup later today.

China, the world's most populous nation, make their World Cup debut against Costa Rica in group C in Kwangju in the opening match of the day.

The action then switches to Saitama where Japan meet Belgium in group H before concluding in Pusan with South Korea's opening group D match against Poland.

Japanese and Korean fans will be following their teams' fortunes with more hope than expectation in the first World Cup staged outside Europe and the Americas.

Japan lost all three group matches four years ago in France in their World Cup debut. South Korea, playing in their fifth consecutive finals and their sixth overall, have yet to win a match.

Saudi Arabia's abject 8-0 loss to Germany last Saturday has not helped the Asian Football Federation's drive for five places at the 2008 tournament.

China qualified for the World Cup last year after 44 years of frustration and coach Bora Milutinovic has already conceded they have no chance against the Brazilians, who kicked off their campaign yesterday with a 2-1 win over Turkey.

But he believes they can draw with Turkey and beat Costa Rica, the team he took to the World Cup finals 12 years ago in Italy. His Costa Rica team beat Scotland and Sweden to reach the second round.

"It is difficult to compare them, everything is different and everything is possible," Milutinovic said.

"The difference is they have three million people. China has more than 400 times more."

Milutinovic has also led Mexico (1986), the United States (1994) and Nigeria (1998) to the World Cup knockout stages.

Costa Rica qualified by beating the Mexicans in the Azteca stadium, becoming the first Central or North American to win a World Cup qualifier in Mexico.

They are gambling on the fitness of two players who have been troubled by knee injuries to head their attack in Paulo Wanchope and Hernan Medford.

Wanchope had a second operation on his right knee last year and missed the end of the season with English first division champions Manchester City.

China are likely to pack their defence, the best in the Asian qualifying competition, and rely on the counter-attack.

Japan, guided by French coach Philippe Troussier, are an attacking side built around Parma midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata.

"The only area in which Japan is behind is in terms of experience at major championships," Belgium coach Robert Waseige said.

"Otherwise Japan are a quality side and Belgium cannot afford to develop a superiority complex."

South Korea will have the support of the fanatical Red Devils, an army totalling 110,000 young local volunteers who dress in red and bang drums.

More significantly under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink they had an impressive run-up to the tournament, including a 1-1 draw with England and 2-3 loss to world champions France.

Hiddink will wait until shortly before the match before informing his team of the starting 11, although Hwang Sun-hong is certain to be entrusted with finding a way through the experienced Poland defence.

- REUTERS

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