China's head coach Bora Milutinovic said on Saturday that he was satisfied with China's grouping with Brazil, Turkey, and Costa Rica in group C at next year's FIFA World Cup finals.
Milutinovic, China's head coach who brought this country into their first ever World Cup finals tour, has also led another four different national teams to qualify for second rounds in World Cup finals in previous competitions from 1986 to 1998.
"This result is fine," said Milutinovic, "I am very happy about it."
Milutinovic believes that four-time champions Brazil should be under the spotlights at next year's World Cup. It would be the third time that Milutinovic faces Brazil when China make their challenge to former world champions. Milutinovic led Costa Rica in 1990, and the USA in 1994, both times losing to Brazil 1-0.
Brazil, unfortunately being overlooked recently, are in Milutinovic's eyes still title challengers.
Milutinovic commented Turkey as a rapidly-progressing team and Costa Rica as a team with passion.
What China needs most, according to the 58-year-old legendary soccer coach, is a desire to win when facing strong forces from all over the world in next June. He also revealed that the national team was to begin its preparation in January, and said to make full preparation and bring the Chinese people joy should be the team's concentration.
(People's Daily December 2, 2001)
