For most Chinese football fans, what interest them the most in the China-Brazil soccer encounter in Qinhuangdao, east China on Wednesday is probably not their national team's performance, but just a look at the star-studded Brazilian team.
The host team and the favorite Brazilians are going to play their last group match. China, however, with just one point after two matches, have almost for sure lost their chance to go any further in the Olympics.
They do not hope to beat Brazil, of course, but just want to "play our game and learn from the world's best team," said Chinese head coach, Yin Tiesheng, in the press conference before the match.
"This is going to be our last match, and we will exert our best to play this game, because to play against Brazil is the best chance for our players to develop," he said.
However, at least four players - Feng Xiaoting, Yuan Weiwei, Tan Wangsong and Zheng Zhi - will miss the chance to rub shoulders with Brazilians due to suspensions.
In the last match against Belgium, Tan Wangson and Zheng Zhi were both sent off as a result of severe fouls on their opponents.
"Tan's behavior on the pitch showed our players are still too young and inexperienced to control themselves - not only their tempers, but also their skills and judgments," Yin said.
Now, three defenders out of four on the 18-player-list have been suspended, which gives Yin a big headache. "My biggest problem now is not about tactics, but whom I can use in the match. I can't even form a complete defense line," he said.
Only 6 days ago, this team was hoping to create a history to advance to the Olympic finals, but now they only wish to finish their Olympic tour with some respects.
Yet Brazil is not in a mood to play for fun. "We never play friendly matches. We will play as we normally do," said Brazilian head coach Dunga, who was a key defensive midfielder for the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 World Cup.
Brazil has scored 6 goals but conceded none in the first two group matches. "The key to the competition is not only to attack, but also to defend," Dunga said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12,2008)