China's fans pin hopes on debut victory

China make their long-awaited debut in the World Cup finals this morning hoping for victory in a match against Costa Rica that could make or break the hopes of a nation of 1.3 billion people.

Costa Rica are China's weakest opponent in Group C, which also includes Brazil and Turkey, and a defeat would severely dent Chinese hopes of reaching the second round.

China have tried to play down expectations among goal-hungry fans, up to 40,000 of whom are expected to travel to South Korea, but hopes are running high back home where tens of millions more will watch the game on television from Beijing to Tibet.

Only 1,000-odd Costa Rica fans are expected in Kwangju, but the stakes are also high for the Central Americans on their second appearance at the finals.

They must improve on poor performances in recent friendlies and injuries to their main strikers if they are to match their admirable performance at the 1990 World Cup in Italy when they reached the second round before losing to Czechoslovakia.

Ironically, it was China coach Bora Milutinovic who guided Costa Rica that year, when the Ticos beat Scotland and Sweden. The much-travelled coach has also led Mexico, the US and Nigeria to the World Cup finals.

Milutinovic says China's best chance of qualifying from the group is to beat Costa Rica and hold Turkey to a draw since he has little hope of getting anything out of the Brazil game.

After five days training on the southern island of Cheju, Milutinovic pronounced his team fit and ready, playing down concerns about injuries to two key players - midfielder Qi Hong and defender Fan Zhiyi - and pressure from the Chinese fans.

"It is best that they enjoy it, be happy - show who we are," he said. "If we are in the World Cup we are always in with a chance."

China will rely on linchpin Fan to marshall a rock-steady defence alongside Sun, and rising star Li Weifeng, to keep out Costa Rica's dangerous, if unpredictable, striker Paulo Wanchope.

Wanchope will spearhead the attack after recovering from a knee injury that had threatened to rule him out of the World Cup. But he has played down his importance in the side.

"This team does not depend solely on me," he told reporters at the weekend. "We are a squad, and all my team-mates are capable of performing well."

Probable teams...

China: Jin, Jihai, Zhiyi, Weifeng, Chengying, Xiaopeng, Tie, Hong, Mingyu, Haidong, Chen.

Costa Rica: Lonnis, Wallace, Marin, Wright, Martinez, Castro, Lopez, Solis, Centeno, Wanchope, Medford.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

On TV: Live on Channel 12, Rai Uno at 8.30 a.m.