bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Chan Kin-wa

It wasn't pretty the last time Hong Kong played China in a World Cup qualifier.
But the bitter memories of a 7-0 thrashing at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium in November 2004 will have to be cast aside as Hong Kong face up to their "Big Brother" again - this time in Shenzhen tonight.
The long anticipated group C match, being held at the 40,000-seat Baoan Stadium, has gathered momentum since the current campaign kicked off in June.

Hong Kong find themselves unexpectedly leading the group with two convincing wins after doing the business at home against minnows Bhutan and Maldives.
But China and Qatar, the two favourites in the group, have so far played only one game each, and they are both unbeaten.
READ MORE: Hong Kong fans slam complicated procedures to get tickets for World Cup soccer qualifier against China
China would catapult into first place in the group if they beat Hong Kong by a big margin tonight.
We will use more physical players for defending, probably six or even more because China are a very strong side 
Kim Pan-gon
None of the current Hong Kong team members played against China last time, but goalkeeper coach Fan Chun-yip was the man between the posts in 2004 and he fully knows just how difficult the task will be.
"[China] are always powerful in attack, putting you under pressure for the full 90 minutes," said Fan, who was with the squad yesterday for their last practice before the match. "The World Cup is the most important soccer event in the eyes of the mainlanders, the fans, the players and the management.
"But it is also because they take it so seriously that they are always under too much pressure and can perform below par. My advice for the [Hong Kong] boys is to go all the way and enjoy the atmosphere of a big match."

Head coach Kim Pan-gon said he would adopt a different game plan from their two previous matches, where they scored a total of nine goals, but the target was still the same - get points from the China game despite the tough task.
"We will use more physical players for defending, probably six or even more because China are a very strong side and with a home-ground advantage," said Kim. "But it doesn't mean we don't want to score - we have a strong force up front.
READ MORE: Hong Kong soccer fans told not to turn crucial World Cup game against China into a political football
"I would be very happy if we can score against China, although I don't how many goals we can score, but we definitely want to get one or three points."
China captain Zheng Zhi, who missed a penalty kick in the 2004 match against Hong Kong, said he would continue taking spot kicks if the coach assigned him to the task.

"I also missed some penalties after the 2004 match but also scored many," said the Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder. "There are no hard feelings and I will have no hesitation in taking a penalty if told by the coach."
China failed to advance from the 2004 preliminary qualification, losing out to Kuwait on goal difference - despite their seven-goal avalanche against Hong Kong in their last qualifying match.
Head coach Alain Perrin was suddenly coy on predicting how many goals they would score against Hong Kong, after previously saying a 3-0 win would be the minimum.
"Three points will be more important than how many goals you can score," said the Frenchman. "Hong Kong have some very good naturalised players. We can't take things for granted."


2009 East Asian Games football hero Chan Siu-ki hangs up his boots

Xi Jinping’s World Cup dream, tattoo bans and Carlos Tevez: Chinese football in the 2010s

No goals, no fans, no TV: Koreas draw 0-0 in blacked-out World Cup qualifier

Tiny Solomon Islands now ranked ahead of Hong Kong in latest Fifa men’s rankings

2018 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifying

Moment of truth: Crunch time as Hong Kong tackle 'Big Brother' in World Cup Asian qualifying clash

Hong Kong coach Kim pan-gon with Chan Wai-ho. Kim believes China will be tough opponents, who are strong in attack. Photos: Xinhua 

China coach Alain Perrin conducts a training session with his players ahead of Thursday's clash against Hong Kong in Shenzhen. 

Hong Kong coach Kim Pan-gon puts his team through their paces in training.   

China captain Zheng Zhi says he is ready to face anything. 

China soccer fans furious as thousands of Hong Kong supporters boo national anthem

Hong Kong fans cheer a goal against Bhutan. Photo: AP

Hong Kong's Godfred Karikari controls the ball as he is tackled by Karma Nidup of Bhutan. Photo: AP

Godfred Karikari in action in front of a "POWER OF HONG KONG" banner. Photo: AP

China soccer fans look forward to World Cup ‘holiday’ as Hong Kong chances are written off

China coach Alain Perrin seemed only to be worried about Qatar. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong's Cheung Chi-tak scored against China in a 2-1 win in Beijing in 1985

Kids at a Shandong soccer school - China is desperate to become a power in the sport with Xi Jinping a huge fan. Photo: Reuters

China's soccer team hit a nadir in 2013 when they were pummeled 5-1 in a friendly by Thailand. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Hong Kong

China

China, on their home turf, are overwhelming favourites to win much anticipated tie, but visitors are not lacking confidence


It wasn't pretty the last time Hong Kong played China in a World Cup qualifier. But the bitter memories of a 7-0 thrashing at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium in November 2004 will have to be cast aside as Hong Kong face up to their "Big Brother" again - this time in Shenzhen tonight.


Moment of truth: Crunch time as Hong Kong tackle 'Big Brother' in World Cup Asian qualifying clash

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China, on their home turf, are overwhelming favourites to win much anticipated tie, but visitors are not lacking confidence

China, on their home turf, are overwhelming favourites to win much anticipated tie, but visitors are not lacking confidence