New China coach Camacho eyes World Cup
BEIJING - Former Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho will shoulder China's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, the Spaniard said after taking charge of the country's national football team on Sunday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iNqetMFaE6sxgpAe8FuzwE.jpg)
The former Spain coach has signed a three-year contract and replaces Gao Hongbo.
"I know the goal will be taking the Chinese team to a new level and leading the team to the World Cup so there's a lot of work to do and there's also challenge and pressure," Camacho was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua.
"Me and my assistants came all the way from Spain and have been working around the clock every day since the negotiations, we want to know better about the country and the job."
China has qualified for the World Cup finals only once when they played in the 2002 edition held in South Korea and Japan but lost all their group matches and failed to score a goal.
In January, they exited the 16-team Asian Cup at the first hurdle after finishing third in Group A behind Uzbekistan and hosts Qatar.
"Football is the most popular game in the world and China is an important country in the world," Camacho said.
"The national side belongs to the country and the people so I wish it could get support from all Chinese people and the media."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
China has been grouped with Jordan, Iraq and Singapore in the World Cup Asia Zone third round qualifiers, beginning September 2.
Four Asian teams will qualify directly for the World Cup while one will have the chance to make the finals in Brazil via a two-leg play-off.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack