For Chinese football fans, memories of Euro 2004 are still vivid as millions witnessed the top European tournament produced an unexpected new champion -- Greece -- on July 4.

It was an amazing result that whet the appetite of football fans half a world away who are now looking forward to savoring the Asian Cup, which kicks off on Saturday at Workers' Stadium in Beijing.

Underdog Greece took Euro 2004 by storm as they rolled over talented heavyweights like France and the Czech Republic en route to achieving the country's greatest football honor with a 1-0 victory over host Portugal in the championship showdown.

Can China pull off a similar upset in the Asian Cup?

It won't be easy, considering 2002 World Cup semifinalist Republic of Korea stands in the way, along with Japan, who advanced to the final 16 at the World Cup.

On June 8 China announced that Liu Jindong from Shandong Luneng Club, Wang Peng from Dalian Shide and Xiao Zhanbo from Shanghai Shenhua were released from the national team due to injuries, trimming the roster to 23 players.

According to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules, every team was required to submit the final list of 22 players and one sub goalkeeper before July 16.

But head coach Arie Haan dismissed the speculation that his lineup would remain static.

Haan said Zhang Yuning from Shenghua, Wang Ling and Xu Liang from Liaoning are likely to be called up again.

Either way, Haan's team, led by veteran striker Hao Haidong and bolstered by European players Shao Jiayi from Munich 1860 and Sun Jihai from Manchester City, is concentrating on last-minute preparations.

Home advantage

No one will forget the moment three years ago when joyful crowds set off fireworks outside Wulihe stadium in Shenyang to celebrate China's historic advancement to its first World Cup finals.

Players and coaches wept with emotion and blew kisses to the delirious mob.

Now another long-awaited dream is expected to be realized amid the nationwide support at home.

All of China's Group A matches against Qatar, Indonesia and Bahrain, will be played at Workers' Stadium.

According to the Beijing ticket center, more than half of the tickets for opening ceremony and opening match between China and Bahrain had been sold by Monday.

"It's a good start. I am sure tickets for all three matches will be sold out," said Zhang Heng, secretary of Organization Committee for Beijing Area.

"If China advances to the semi-final, the ticket price will become far more expensive," Zhang added.

Zhang also predicted China will win the Cup.

"What can we live for if we can not stage an outstanding performances in front of home fans? We should march on as long as we are alive," said Zhang.

Wang Bo, a 45-year-old Beijinger who has followed football for more than 20 years, is equally excited about the national team's prospects.

"I have witnessed China's failures in Asian Cup four times, but I still support them and believe they will not let me down this time," said Wang. "I have bought tickets for all the group matches."

For those outside Beijing, the matches will be televised nationwide.

"I think this will be the best chance for China to win the title. I have invited a group of my friends to see the matches at my home. We are looking forward to a final and to a celebration party like the one in Greece when the national team returned home," said Zhu Hui from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

Confidence needed

Following his team's unbeaten run of 14 international A level matches, China's Dutch coach is trying to extend that success into the Asian Cup tournament.

"Our aim is to win the crown. In my mind, my team is the favorite," said Haan.

"We have to put it in our minds that we can become the champion. It will boost our confidence." Haan also admitted luck will be needed to achieve that goal.

"We are a team of quality, but we still need a little bit luck," he said.

Haan's words were echoed by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Peter Velappan, who said Chinese players need to believe in themselves if they want to make the final.

"You must have faith in your team. I will tell them (the Chinese players) that people in China believe in you, just go out and do it."

But Chinese officials, who previously said the target was to reach the final have become more conservative as the tournament draws closer.

"Playing on home soil means huge pressure," said Zhang Jilong, AFC and CFA vice-president. "The team is in the spotlight and we can only hope for a better result.

"We have never said that China should win the title of Asian Cup. We just want the team to play its best."

Good news

There is some good news for China as arch-rivals Japan and Republic of Korea will both be missing some key players.

Shinji Ono, the starry 24-year-old midfielder from Feyenoord has been left off Japan's squad so that he can play at the Athens Olympics

Ono's omission comes as a surprise, considering captain Hidetoshi Nakata of Bologna will also miss the tournament because of a lingering groin injury and Fulham's Junichi Inamoto has a broken fibula.

Japan is in tough Group D with Iran, Thailand and Oman.

The Republic of Korea, competing in Group B with Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan, will play without captain Yoo Sang-chul and Dutch-based Song Chong-gug, along with Kim Nam-il. All three were permitted "over-age" players for the under-23 Olympic tournament.

Iran have been hit by an injury to 2003 AFC Player of the Year Mehdi Mahdavikia.

Also receiving treatment is striker Arash Borhani while one player who will definitely miss out on the Asian Cup is under-23 captain Moharram Navidkia.

(China Daily July 17, 2004)