China needs to win today against Turkey if it is to learn anything positive from the World Cup, its coach Bora Milutinovic said yesterday in Seoul.
One of the most successful national team coaches in history, after taking five different countries to the World Cup, "Milu" told the Taipei Times that turning up was not enough.
"If China is to learn how to succeed at the World Cup then it must win tomorrow against Turkey. It's no good learning how to lose, that's not the point of playing."
He said that his contract with China would be up after the World Cup and hinted that he would be coaching elsewhere in the future.
"It has been a great pleasure to coach the China team and I believe many practical lessons have been learned."
Asked whether China would ever be a world power in soccer, Milu said, "Everyone wants to be a world power, but there are always practical difficulties."
He said the game against Turkey would be difficult. "No games at the World Cup are easy and Turkey will not be easy, so we will do our best to go out with a win.
"Tomorrow it's time to score a goal and that is what we will be aiming at -- we are confident because we have nothing to lose."
With Turkey needing at least three points to progress into the second round from Group C, it is expected that China will face a fierce assault from the kickoff.
Earlier in the day, Turkey Coach Senol Gunes said he did not think Brazil would try to draw against Costa Rica and thereby hand the "Ticos" the point they need to qualify in second place behind Brazil for the second round.
In a separate interview, Brazil's Rivaldo said in Suwon, South Korea, "We're on a roll and want to keep up our momentum."
China will end up at the bottom of the class unless it beats Turkey.
Gunes said of Turkey's qualification hopes, "We still have a chance, we never give up, the race continues. Football is a game of mistakes and we paid a price for those mistakes, but my players showed the effort."
On China, he said, "They are good at team play and are disciplined. They like to run a lot and have had good moments in the two games they've played.
"During the times that they have controlled the game, they have made unexplained errors and these have changed the results. Maybe inexperience affected them and after conceded goals their morale was low."
Gunes said Okan Buruk and Muzzy Izzet were very doubtful for today because of injuries, but key forward Hakan Sukur and goalkeeper Rustu Recber would probably play, after sustaining slight injuries against Costa Rica.
Milutinovic is expected to play Fan Zhiyi and galloping captain Ma Mingyu, both of whom were injured, so it should be a full strength team for "the Reds" today in their final match of the tournament.
Ma said he had enjoyed the World Cup, "Absolutely, this is our first World Cup and it is of great significance."
RSS