There is a well-known saying in China when the future hangs in the balance: "Meet all changes by remaining unchanged."

China surpirsingly dumped regular international defenders Du Wei and Xhang Yaokun (inset) las weekend, stirring doubt among fans and media about its chance of making the 2010 World Cup finals. [China Daily]But the nation's soccer team, it seems, has no use for ancient maxims as coach Vladimir Petrovic guts the team just a few weeks before the opening of the 2010 World Cup Asian Zone Qualifiers against a tough Iraq side.

Petrovic, who took the post only four months ago, has replaced most of the team assembled by his predecessor Zhu Guanghu, who was sacked after China was eliminated from the Asian Cup. The Serb launched a nationwide search for his own men, calling up many new faces unknown to most fans and media.

The dramatic reshuffle continued during the latest warm-up session when he axed seven players from his squad in the wake of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of German Bundesliga side SV Hamburg over the weekend.

Team officials said more changes are likely to come before the final list for the qualifying competitions is announced.

A chorus of pessimism has sung out from the headlines since China was drawn into the "group of death" for the third-round World Cup qualifier in the Asian Zone, a group that also includes former Oceania champion Australia, Asian Cup champion Iraq and Asian Games champion Qatar.

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