DOHA: China test their young squad and Kuwait count on the momentum of their recent Gulf Cup triumph today as they open their Asian Cup campaign in a cut-throat group.
“I want to use this match to test our preparation,” China coach Gao Hongbo said on the eve of the Group A tussle. “We are a young team but we are not afraid of any opponents.”
Kuwait coach Goran Tufegdzic, who guided his side in the last few months to the West Asian Championship and their 10th Gulf Cup title, their first in 12 years, said it would be a “very, very difficult Asian Cup”.
Hosts Qatar and Central Asian heavyweights Uzbekistan are in the same group.
“In our group, there are no favourites. We are the same level,” said the 39-year-old Serb who replaced local coach Mohammed Ibrahim in early 2009 during Kuwait’s struggle in qualifying.
He said the Gulf Cup title, which Kuwait won by beating a second-string Saudi Arabia in the final, would not pressure them.
“It will only bring more motivation to the team.”
Hongbo, who took the job in early 2009 and led China to the East Asian Championship a year ago, agreed: “All four teams in our group can qualify if they are in the other groups.”
He has brought a young squad with an average age of 24, the youngest among the 16 Finalists.
“We are more focused on the future,” said Hongbo, under whom China missed out on a place at the World Cup in South Africa but shocked France 1-0 away in June to make world headlines.
“Our target is to test our tactical philosophy to see if it fits our players,” added the 44-year-old, who said China have had mixed results since Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic guided them to their only World Cup Finals in 2002.
“At my age, I believe I can see China become the champions of Asia.”
China have made nine previous appearances at the continental showcase but the closest they have come to tasting success is runners-up finishes in 1984 and 2004.
Kuwait won the Asian Cup on home soil in 1980, but have not managed to progress beyond the last eight since 1996.
At the last edition in 2007, neither side made an impression with China eliminated in the group phase and Kuwait failing to qualify.
China midfielder Yu Hai said: “I must say we are a young team but we have more passion and more self-confidence. We will try our 100% against any opponents.”
“I wish our hard work can help Chinese football change and recover from the bad situation,” said the 23-year-old who has scored six goals in 20 matches since his international debut in mid-2009.
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