China striker Hao Haidong, who broke his right ankle in the country's 5-0 rout of Indonesia in their Asian Cup Group A match on Wednesday, said here on Friday that he is very likely to miss the remaining matches in the Asian Cup.

"I had a scan this morning and doctors said it takes at least 10 days to recover," the 34-year-old said. "Some doctors even said that it might take longer."

Hao, who scored his 36th goals for China against Indonesia, limped off the field in the second half. But he said that there is no regret to suffer such a serious injury against a team as weak as Indonesia.

"That's life," said the Dalian striker. "As a footballer, you cannot help it. You can have only luck to blame."

But he is optimistic that he might be fit enough to play the semifinals or the finals if China can reach that far.

"I believe China can do well this time at home," he said. "And I hope that I can be match-fit at that time."

The outspoken Hao also believed that China can do similarly well without him.

"I don't think I am so important a player," he said. "I am justone of the 11 players. China have several good strikers like Li Jinyu, Li Yi and Zhang Suo. All of them have proved that they can score goals for our country."

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2004)