China will play international soccer friendlies with former world champions Argentina and Germany in July and next February, it was announced Saturday in Beijing.

China, who was knocked out of the 2006 World Cup finals late last year, will play Argentina on July 22 and meet Germany on February 8, 2006.

New head coach Zhu Guanghu will play his first international against Spain on March 26 and second against Ireland three days later.

Zhu, who became the stand-in head coach after Dutchman Arie Haan had been sacked last year, will announce the squad early in March.