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    China coach on verge of history
    (Agencies)
    Updated: 2004-08-05 13:30

    Coach Arie Haan plans to make history for China, handing the nation of football fanatics its first-ever Asian Cup, but warned ahead of Saturday's final against Japan that his team needs to remain focused.

    "You have reached the finals, and now you can make China football history," the former Dutch international told his players following Tuesday's night's tense 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Iran.

    "Our next task is to get some rest, prepare for the next match and win the championship."

    Charged showdown

    China squeezed through to their first Asian Cup final in 20 years, downing 10-man Iran to set up the mouth-watering showdown against their neighbouring East Asian arch rivals.

    "The Japanese team is a leading team in Asian football, but we can beat them," Haan told the Chinese Press.

    "This will be a very wonderful thing, but you saw how difficult it was for us to beat Iran."

    In their last and only other Asian Cup final, China were downed 2-0 by Saudi Arabia in Singapore in 1984.

    In a nail biting finish Tuesday, Chinese goalkeeper Liu Yunfei proved the hero, blocking a spot kick by Yahya Golmohammadi to send the hosts through 4-3 after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.

    China were striving to beat Iran for the first time in a decade, and it is an indication of how far they have come under Haan that they managed it. The influence of Dutch football's Johann Cruyff-led golden era of the 1970s, when Haan played in two World Cup finals after winning the European Cup three times with Ajax, has been evident in China's approach so far.

    Haan has acknowledged China's attacking game was born of his experiences as a player. Before the match, he promised his side would push the ball forward against Iran, but when striker Hao Haidong went off injured, a more defensive strategy was necessary.

    "I was very happy with the second half. We completely controlled the tempo of the match," Haan said. "I told the team to play the ball and not to chase the ball..., I also told them that if we cannot score a goal and win the match, then we will go to penalty kicks.

    "We had to maintain our strength, to play the ball we would be able to save our strength. If you are very tired, then it is very difficult to make penalty kicks." Haan admitted that the red card to Iranian defender Sattar Zare was a turning point and that China may have lost if they didn't have the extra man advantage for much of the second half and the 30 minutes of extra time.

    Zare was given his marching orders for pushing Chinese midfielder Shao Jiayi in the chest with an open hand.

    After the shove, Shao fell to the ground, theatrically clutching his throat.

    Referees' decisions

    "There is always a little bit of excitement over the decision of referees, but these things should not be discussed, especially after the games," Haan said, refusing to comment on Shao's actions.

    China's road to the brink of history has not been easy, and they have stuttered along the way, but there has been a vast improvement in the level of Chinese play, said Haan. "I think they (the Chinese players) have proven at the Asian Cup that their technical level has risen, and more importantly their psychological and mental strength and every aspect of their game has risen, they have proven what they can do against these teams."



     
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