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SINGAPORE: No Asian team has won the football gold medal since the
sport was included in the Olympics 100 years ago, and barring an
upset they will struggle to breakthrough in Beijing.
Regional sides have had some success over the
years, with Japan taking the bronze in 1968 in Mexico City, when
they beat the host nation 2-0 in the play-off match.
And on three occasions, Asian teams have
finished in fourth place—India in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia in
1992 in Barcelona (they were then affiliated with Oceania rather
than Asia) and Iraq four years ago in Athens.
But the ultimate prize has eluded Asia.
Once again, traditional heavyweights Japan,
South Korea and Australia are in the draw after coming through
qualifying while China go in as hosts.
China is in a group with Belgium, New Zealand
and one of the favorites Brazil, although the South American giants
are without star midfielder Kaka after AC Milan refused to release
him.
“Though Brazil is hot favorite of the group
and is also the title favorite, I still hope we can make some
trouble,” insists China coach Ratomir Dujkovic.
“We are playing at home and though we respect
Brazil we will not give up.”
The top two from each group progress to the
quarterfinals.
More than one billion people will be expecting
China to shine, but the signs are not promising following the under-
23 team’s performance in the East Asian championships in February
when they finished behind Japan and South Korea.
It led to calls for Chinese Football Association
Vice President Xie Yalong to be sacked and his position could be
under threat once again should they fail in August.
How Chinese fans behave will also be closely
watched, especially if they meet Japan, which has been targeted in
the past with taunts and abuse over its wartime atrocities.
And the Chinese players will also be under
scrutiny with memories lingering of their notorious punch-up with
London club QPR, dubbed the “Great Brawl of China”, during a
friendly last year.
It was one of a number of incidents on their
European tour, including reported clashes with Marseille’s
development team and Chelsea’s second XI.
Japan is regarded as Asia’s strongest team,
with coach Yasuharu Sorimachi at the helm. But the Japanese will be
missing influential Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura needed for the
start of the Scottish season.
Similarly, South Korea is without Manchester
United’s Park Ji Sung.
Australia’s men have never missed an Olympics
since football was opened to professionals in 1988 and the Olyroos
showed their mettle by coming through a tough final qualifying
campaign against Iraq, North Korea and Lebanon.
Coach Graham Arnold, who led the senior team at
last year’s Asian Cup finals, believes his side can emulate its
performance in Athens when the Olyroos went beyond the group stage.
“We know we can get through this group, we
have history and also we have had such a tough schedule just to make
it this far, which will hold us in good stead,” he said.
“Playing in Asia has taught us a lot about the
conditions we will face in China and that could also give us an
advantage.”
The Australians are grouped with defending
champions Argentina, Olympic newcomers Ivory Coast and European
qualifiers Serbia.
While age restrictions apply for the men, no
such rules are in place for women, meaning top quality teams will be
in action.
Since the introduction of women’s football to
the Olympics in 1996, the United States has won gold twice and
Norway once.
The Americans will be a threat once again but
North Korea and China made the quarterfinals of the World Cup last
year.
Japan is Asia’s other representative.
-- AFP
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