Chinese national soccer team, rebuilt after their early exit from 2006 World Cup qualifiers, are eager for a win over Costa Rica in their debut at home.

China will host the Central American nation in an international friendly here on Sunday to warm up for the upcoming Eastern Asian Four-nation championships.

That would be the 2002 World Cup participant's third campaign under new manager Zhu Guanghu, but the first one on their own soil.

With already two defeats during their European journey in March, Zhu and his players want nothing but a convincing victory to wash out the bitter memory.

"First we have to avoid a loss, and then to strive for a win. That's very important for us to rebuild the confidence and team spirit, particularly after the World Cup hope was dashed," Zhu said in a press conference before the match.

In contrast, Chinese Under-20 team drew the world's attention at the undergoing World Youth Championship in the Netherlands and has become the first team to reach the second round after gorgeous wins over group contenders Turkey and Ukraine.

Zhu talked about the U20 team, coached by German Eckhard Krautzun at present, with restrained compliments.

"They did quite a job, and showcased the strength of team spirit. It also encourages us. Maybe we should learn from them."

The former Chinese junior soccer boss took the helm in March to fill in the vacancy left by Dutchman Arie Haan, sacked as China's 2006 World Cup journey ended in November last year.

The appointment was viewed as an evidence of Chinese soccer authorities' growing disappointment with the capabilities of foreign coaches. There were also whispers before the youth championship that Zhu might take over Krautzun's post as well.

Zhu, 55, who led Shenzhen Jianlibao to the title of the inaugural Chinese Super League last season, faced immediate away friendlies two weeks after he official appointment on March 11. His regrouped national squad lost both, 3-0 to Spain and 1-0 to Ireland.

The back-to-back frustration piled up Chinese soccer fans' expectation upon the Costa Rica clash with the extra spice to revenge their World Cup 2-0 opening loss three years ago.

But Zhu felt uncomfortable to play a revenge role.

"Forget about that meeting. This friendly has nothing to do with the World Cup since both sides' lineup changed a lot since then. What we have to do is to concentrate on the competition and try our best," he said.

The 2002 World Cup trip was a historic breakthrough for Chinese soccer, steered by Serb Bora Milutinovic then. China lost all the group matches in the tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

Out of the 2002 team, only four players - Li Weifeng, Zhao Junzhe, Li Xiaopeng and Du Wei stay in Zhu's lineup.

About half of Costa Rican players are new faces compared to three years ago. Their top player Paulo Cesar Wanchope, who plays forward for Spain's Malaga and started the China match in the 2002 World Cup, was absent from the list given by the Costa Rican soccer association.

Either did Brescia's defender Gilberto Martinez join the squad.

Their head coach Alexandre Guimaraes, who outperformed Milutinovic's team in 2002, told local media they wanted to try new lineup in the friendly in preparation for the their second-phase CONCACAF world cup qualifiers. He said that was why they didn't recall the two stars from Europe.

Costa Rica now takes sole possession of third place in the region with seven points, behind Mexico and the United States.

Milutinovic, known in China as "Milu", will come to watch the game at the invitation of the Changsha organizing committee. It would be interesting to see his get-together with Zhu and Guimaraes.

China and Costa Rica will play a second leg in Guangzhou next Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua