Youthful China look to the future in Doha

China coach Gao Hongbo

DOHA: China’s squad for the Asian Cup is the youngest in the team’s history, but after a number of breakthroughs in 2010 there is a renewed air of optimism around the continent’s perennial under-achievers.

Last year marked a series of firsts for Gao Hongbo’s side.

Their 3-0 defeat of South Korea at the East Asian Football Championship in February was their first victory over their rivals in 28 attempts, and set China on the path to their second triumph in the regional event.

They missed out on a place at the World Cup in South Africa, but a shock 1-0 win over France on the island of Reunion in June was the most sensational result of the pre-tournament friendly matches.

China’s Under-23 side fell to South Korea in the last 16 at the Asian Games in November, but they ended the year strongly and Deng Zhuoxiang’s stoppage-time penalty in the 1-0 defeat of Macedonia on Dec 23 brought China a fourth victory from five Asian Cup warm-up games.

“They have prepared well and they have a good balance between youth and experience,” said well-travelled former China coach Bora Milutinovic.

“When I watch this team and I see the names of Du Wei and Qu Bo, for me it’s a special sensation because they started to play with me 10 years ago when I was China coach and it’s very exciting.”

The average age of the squad for the Asian Cup is just 24, as China embark on a long-term plan with qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as their objective.

“The ultimate goal for this young senior team is to make the 2014 World Cup,” Cao Jingwei, a Chinese Football Association official, told the China Daily last month. “The Asian Cup is just a test.”

Hongbo took over as coach in May 2009 and has overseen a steady rise up the FIFA world rankings from 108 to a current position of 87.