China U-23 Olympic football team has avoided a big clash with
strong rival Iraq at the group stage in Doha Asiad following a draw
ceremony on Sunday.
China had been grouped with Iraq, Oman and Malaysia in Group E
of the Doha Games, and had been scheduled to take on Iraq on Nov.
29 in the first match. But things changed after Iran's withdrawal
from the Games' soccer competitions due to FIFA's suspension, and
Yemen and Turkmenistan's pull-out, and a new round of draw
concerning five teams Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Syria were arranged on Sunday.
After the fresh draw, Iraq moved to Group D to take Iran's place
and Syria filled Iraq's booth in Group E.
Although China could take advantage of the change, they are
likely to meet Iraq in the quarter-finals. The newly-signed head
coach of the Chinese U-23 team, Ratomir Dujkovic from Serbia, is
ambitious to lead the squad to the final at the Doha Games.
The Chinese national team ground out a loss and a draw with Iraq
at the two-legged Asian Cup qualifiers this year.
(Xinhua News Agency?November 27, 2006)