3000 Chinese fans to spectate but expect less

Over two fifths of Chinese Internet users believe China will not qualify for the last eight of the upcoming Asian Cup, according to a poll by Sina.com on Thursday.

About 42.7 percent of 2,300 surveyed by the popular Chinese news portal hold China will be eliminated after the group stage. Only 17.2 percent think China will win the tournament.

About 32.6 percent expect Uzbekistan to be the dark horse to spring surprise and nearly half predict Japan to lift the trophy and one fifth favor Australia as eventual winner.

Chinese media believed China's national football team got luck ontheir side as Alan Perrin' s men will make their first appearance against Saudi Arabia in the2015 Asian Cup in a few hours, but the 18-year winless history against the opponent stillstings painfully.

China is lucky to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup finals as the best third-place finishers fromqualifying tournament. What's more, Saudi Arabia's star forward Nassir Al Shamrani hasbeen ruled out for the Asian Cup just fewer hours before he faces China in Brisbane, whichmade Chinese media super optimistic.

For Chinese fans,Over 3,000 seats for them on the opener against Saudi Arabia on Jan. 12 have been reserved by local Chinese supporters, according to the Queensland's Chinese community spokesman Michael Ma on Thursday.

The Chinese team were welcomed by local fans when they arrived in Brisbane, where head coach Alain Perrin and captain Zheng Zhi are popular with Chinese communities.

The first game would be on 10th,Jan.

Source: Xinhua