China have signalled their intentions for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos by naming a near full-strength side for the dead rubber.
The Chinese are already out of qualifying contention and were tipped to bring practically their under 23s Olympics side to Australia in preparation for the Beijing Games in August.
But they arrived in Australia today with almost their best-available squad, including English-based players Sun Jihai (Manchester City) and Zheng Zhi (Charlton).
The squad includes most of the players that featured in last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Iraq which ensured they would not progress to the next stage of qualification.
While Australian coach Pim Verbeek has opted to rest his top-line stars for the match, China coach Vladimir Petrovic, whose job is hanging by a thread, seems determined to see out the qualifying with a result.
Despite technically having nothing to play for at ANZ Stadium, Socceroos defender Michael Beauchamp believes the Chinese will not be short on motivation.
“They’ve still got pride to prove,” Beauchamp said after joining up with his teammates in camp in Sydney today.
“They’re a country of pride, so for us we’re not going out their half-heartedly at all.”
Goalkeeper Michael Petkovic, who is likely to deputise for the suspended Mark Schwarzer in between the sticks, agreed China’s failure to qualify could spur them on in Sydney.
“Obviously they’ve had a bad campaign and they’re out but they have something to prove to their country and to the people back home by finishing off their last game on a good result,” Petkovic said.
“Obliviously we want to do the same.
“Even though we’ve qualified for the next stage, we want to end this group on a good note.”
China squad: Zong Lei (Changchun Yatai), Song Zhen-Yu (Changsha Jinde), Zhang Yaokun (Dalian Shide), Xu Yun-Long (Beijing Guoan), Wu Hao (Shandong Luneng), Sun Ji-Hai (Manchester City), Wang Xiao (Tianjin Teda), Sun Xiang (Shanghai Shenhua), Li Wei Feng (Shanghai Shanhua), Xiao Zhanbo (Shanghai Shenhua), Du Zhen-Yu (Changchun Yatai), Liu Jian (Qingdao Zhongneng), Wang Dong (Changchun Yatai), Han Peng (Shandong Luneng), Huang Bowen (Beijing Guoan), Zheng Zhi (Charlton), Gao Lin (Shanghai Shanhua) Qu Bo (Qingdao Zhongneng)
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