By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-21 09:44

China men's and women's soccer teams are looking to deliver more than expected at the Olympic Games after they were drawn in favorable groups last night in Beijing.

The men's team is grouped with Brazil, New Zealand and Belgium.

The last time China competed at an Olympic Games was 20 years ago in Seoul and the long-time underachiever in the sport had to rely on the host's right to gain a berth this time.

Even so, the draw gives China a good chance to make headway.

While star-studded Brazil - with Kaka, Alexandre Pato and the rest - is almost assured to top the group, China stands a good chance of finishing second, if it can overcome New Zealand and Belgium.

Then it would likely face the top team from Group D, which includes Honduras, South Korea, Italy and Cameroon.

China's Serbian head coach Ratomir Dujkovic, who took over the team two years ago, previously said he expects to lead the team into the semifinals.

He said he was pleased with the group draw, as well as the schedule, which sees China open its account against New Zealand on Aug 7 and play its final match against group favorite Brazil.

"It's not a bad draw. Of course I hope Brazil will play with us when it already has 6 points. Then we have a big chance of advancing into the next round with them," Dujkovic said.

Dujkovic added China would not be giving up when it plays against Brazil.

"Though Brazil is hot favorite of the group and is also the title favorite, I still hope we can make some trouble. We are playing at home and though we respect Brazil we will not give up."

Dujkovic tipped South Korea to be China's rival in the quarterfinals, saying the host's Asian neighbor is likely to top Group D.

"I think Korea has the best chance as the group winner. And Cameroon and Italy will fight for second place.

"But first of all we have to pay attention to ourselves. We must play our best football and advance from the group."

Reigning champion Argentina, presumably led by established superstars such as Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi, is in Group A with Cote d'Ivoire, Australia and Serbia.

For the Netherlands, emphatic winner of the UEFA U-21 Championship, it will be a first Olympic appearance in 55 years.

The Dutch are in Group B and face opponents US, Nigeria and Japan.

Women aim to bounce back

China's women's team also has good reason to be happy as its group E avoids the major title contenders and sees itself joined by Sweden, Canada and Argentina.

None of these three teams advanced into last year's World Cup second round and China is likely to beat at least two of them on home soil.

The team - which has just ended a month-long coaching debacle, with local coach Shang Ruihua replacing outgoing French head Elisabeth Loisel last month - will open its Olympic campaign on Oct 6 against Sweden in Tianjin.

The 63-year-old Shang, who guided the Chinese team to the quarterfinals at the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, has once again been handed the national team's reins.

As the man who laid the foundations of the team that won silver at Atlanta 1996 and then at the 1999 Women's World Cup, Shang is cautious about China's Olympic prospects.

"We are not a world top level team any more. We are lagging far behind, compared with how we were in the late 1990s," Shang said.

"Though we are not in the same group as Germany, US or Brazil, we still do not have much of an advantage over the teams in our group. We have to play our best if we want to beat any of them. "

"We do not have more time to prepare. All we can do right now is work harder and rely on better teamwork. We will try our best in every match and hope to get a good result at the Olympics."

Most of the attention will be focused on Group F, which has Asian powerhouse North Korea, World Cup winner Germany, World Cup runner-up Brazil and the rapidly-improving Nigeria.

Germany is looking to add another Olympic title to its belt while Brazil, which was just a step away from the Olympic gold medal when it lost to the US in Athens, hopes not to let history repeat itself again.

Brazil secured the last remaining place just one day before the drawing ceremony, after easing to a 5-1 play-off victory over Ghana in an Olympic qualifying tournament at the Beijing Worker's Stadium.

Reigning Olympic champion US is drawn in Group G with Japan, Norway and New Zealand.