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China
China may be the world's most populous country, but let's face it, this nation of 1.3 billion people hasn't produced a lot of football talents. But the tides are changing, and thanks to the astute management of Bora Milutinovic, the nation can now look forward to taking part in the world's largest sporting event.
The World Cup debutants will rely on a hard-working team to make them proud in the finals. And who can bet against them making the second round? After all, Bora has taken four countries to the finals, and he has guided them into the round of 16.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto takes a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN International.
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China's qualification campaign did little to prepare the team for the challenges ahead, since the best teams it faced were the UAE, Uzbekistan, Oman and Qatar. But at least it allowed Milutinovic to create a solid unit that will not be easy to break down.
This team relies heavily on a strong five-man back line, which is led by Asian Player of the Year Fan Zhiyi. Li Tie could be one of the players to watch. He is expected to provide a connection between defense and midfield and will see a lot of the ball. Up front, Yang CHen and Hao Haidong are expected to lead the charge. They are two fast and powerful forwards who will be looking to hit opponents on the break. They may not be the most skillful players around, but they will not stop running all game long.
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Fan Zhiyi. He is one of the few players on this squad to have tasted top-class football. Zhiyi played in England with Crystal Palace and now works for Dundee in Scotland. He will have to lead by example and inspire his colleagues if China is going to be competitive in the finals. Zhiyi is commanding in the air and also has great timing on his tackles. Opponents should watch for him on corners and free kicks; he can score a few goals as well.
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International experience. Only two of China's players have actually played in competitive leagues abroad, so it's obvious that most of them will find it hard to adapt to the level of play in the finals. This team could easily panic, and if that happens the Chinese could find themselves on the receiving end of a few thrashings.
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Bora. The Serbian manager has made history by taking five countries to the World Cup finals. All of his previous teams made the second round, but can he work his magic on his biggest underdog yet? He is one of the best motivators in the world of football and also knows tactics better than most. The question is, will his players remember Bora's advice and follow his directions, or will they succumb to the pressure of playing in China's first World Cup?
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China finished in first place in Asia's final Group 2. It won six, drew one and lost one of its eight games, scoring 13 goals and conceding two.
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None. China is making its first appearance in the finals.
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The Chinese players should try to enjoy the experience, whatever happens in the World Cup. I don't see them making it past the first round, but they could get one or two draws. They will have problems scoring goals since none of their players have ever experienced this high level of football before. They lack a true target man and also don't possess an inspirational playmaker. Bora will not allow his team to be embarrassed, but he will also not be able to make up for the shortage of overall talent in his squad.
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