China failed to enter the next round of the Asian zone qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, even though the goal-hungry team thrashed Hong Kong of China 7-0 Wednesday. The result, however, was not enough to put them through as Kuwait routed Malaysia 6-1 and advanced on the merit of one more goal over China.

"It's easy to blame the head coach after the team's elimination. But we can't do that," said Chinese Football Association vice president Nan Yong. "He is a hard-working and competent coach and he has ideas and his own ways of doing things."

The Dutch coach is set to leave China as his contract is based on the team's qualifying for the World Cup.

CFA official confessed that hiring a foreign coach is like gambling. Nobody can promise the coach will deliver good results when the contract is signed.

German Klaus Schlappner, Briton Bobby Houghton and Serbian Bora Milutinovic are other foreigners have coached the Chinese team, which qualified for its only World Cup finals appearance under the guidance of Milutinovic in 2002.

(Photo source: sina)

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