The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Beijing

China have vowed to play confident and aggressive football in their crucial World Cup qualifier against Qatar this weekend, after three straight draws left their 2010 ambitions on a knife-edge.

The Chinese players flew home after a goalless stalemate against Qatar on Monday with coach Ratomir Dujkovic and administrators seeking to assure a nervous public that China can progress past Asia's so-called "Group of Death".

"I am sure we will make it into the next round. Everyone on the team is full of confidence because our fate is in our hands," China Football Association vice president Xie Yalong said, according to the China Daily on Thursday.

Dujkovic said the team was in no doubt that they must go for goals in the return fixture against Qatar on Saturday night in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.

"I do not think I have to repeat how important the match is. This match is crucial to whether we are able to advance from the group," Dujkovic said.

"We will try to push forward and play more aggressive football than the matches on the road. I hope Chinese fans come to support us in Tianjin and I will not let them down."

After Qatar, China will play Iraq the following Saturday in Tianjin, and victories in both matches would almost certainly see them through to the final phase of Asian qualifying.

Dujkovic insisted his team had nothing to fear from those matches, even though one slip-up may cost them their chance of progressing-as they would then most likely have to beat Australia away in the final match.

"We have no reason to be scared of Qatar. Qatar and Iraq play similar styles of soccer and they are almost on the same level. As long as we have a strong desire for victory throughout the match, we will beat them," he said.

Australia are currently top of Group One with seven points, Qatar have four points, China three and Iraq one.

The top two teams in each group advance to the final round of Asian qualifying.