China's head coach Bora Milutinovic said on Saturday that he was
satisfied with China's grouping with Brazil, Turkey, and Costa Rica
in group C at next year's
FIFA
World Cup finals.
Milutinovic, China's head coach who brought this country into their
first ever World Cup finals tour, has also led another four
different national teams to qualify for second rounds in World Cup
finals in previous competitions from 1986 to 1998.
"This result is fine," said Milutinovic, "I am very happy about
it."
Milutinovic believes that four-time champions Brazil should be
under the spotlights at next year's World Cup. It would be the
third time that Milutinovic faces Brazil when China make their
challenge to former world champions. Milutinovic led Costa Rica in
1990, and the USA in 1994, both times losing to Brazil 1-0.
Brazil, unfortunately being overlooked recently, are in
Milutinovic's eyes still title challengers.
Milutinovic commented Turkey as a rapidly-progressing team and
Costa Rica as a team with passion.
What China needs most, according to the 58-year-old legendary
soccer coach, is a desire to win when facing strong forces from all
over the world in next June. He also revealed that the national
team was to begin its preparation in January, and said to make full
preparation and bring the Chinese people joy should be the team's
concentration.
( December 2, 2001)