China coach Ratomir Dujkovic admits Brazil are favorites to win the men’s Olympic soccer gold medal, but feels his side has an excellent chance of joining them in the knockout rounds.
Brazil, who are expected to field superstars Kaka and Alexandre Pato, and China were drawn in the same group on Sunday, but they avoided defending champions Argentina and World Cup holders Italy.
Also in their section are Belgium and New Zealand, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.
Hosts China open their Group C account against New Zealand on Aug. 7 and play their final match against Brazil.
“It’s not a bad draw. Of course I hope Brazil will play with us when it already has six points. Then we have a big chance of advancing into the next round with them,” Dujkovic told the China Daily newspaper.
Argentina will be pleased with the way the draw panned out for them, pitted in Group A with Olympic newcomers Ivory Coast, surprise European qualifiers Serbia and Australia.
Group B comprises three-time bronze-medalists the Netherlands, the US, Nigeria and Asian stalwarts Japan, while Italy take on South Korea, Cameroon and Honduras in Group D.
Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi was happy with the draw.
“I think it’s a good draw for us, even if it is a bit difficult as we don’t know the Olympic teams we will be facing very well,” he said. “But we will analyze them now. Cameroon can prove very difficult and South Korea are almost playing at home.”
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