"It's the worst, worst, worst draw for China!" "A deadly and suffocating group!"

"We're frightened to death before the competition starts!"

Pessimism is dominating the headlines of domestic newspapers as China's hopes of making it into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa were dealt a huge blow on Sunday after an unfortunate draw. China's opponents for the third-round World Cup qualifier in the Asian Zone include former Oceania champion Australia, Asian Cup champion Iraq and Asian Games champion Qatar - the so-called "group of death".

Former soccer international George Weah holds up the name of China during the preliminary draw for the 2010 Soccer World Cup at the ICC in Durban, South Africa on Sunday. [AP] From an initial group of 41 teams, potential Asian representatives in South Africa have been whittled down to 20. The top two finishers in each group of four from the third round will advance to the final round to determine which Asian teams get to compete in 2010.

After Sunday's draw, there are doubts about whether China will even advance into the fourth qualification round, let alone the final tournament.

"The new coach did not give China any good luck. Actually we have been practically dead," said a commentary in Titan Sports.

China named former Dalian Shide manager Vladimir Petrovic the head coach of the national team in September, hoping the Serbian would be able to lead China to a successful World Cup qualification bid in the next year. He was given a one-year contract with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), which will end just as China finishes its third-round qualification matches in 2008.

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