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China looks to land of Messi and Maradona in bid to hit footballing goals
- Argentina has pledged to provide coaches for a new soccer school ahead of a visit by President Alberto Fernandez to the Beijing Winter Olympics
- Despite strong support from President Xi Jinping, the Chinese men’s national team this week failed to qualify for the Qatar World Cup
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Argentina has promised to provide coaches and technicians to help train Chinese footballers ahead of a visit by President Alberto Fernandez to the Beijing Winter Olympics.
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The plan to set up a soccer school was announced on Thursday by the Argentine ambassador to China, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, in an interview with the Global Times.
The ambassador said the Olympics should not be politicised because it should be an occasion for “all countries to show unity and harmony,” adding that the president’s visit showed the importance he attached to China hosting the Games and the relationship between the two countries.
“Sports cooperation will become the future – the main content of Argentina-China cooperation,” he added.
The news that the two-time world champions and home to the likes of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi would be providing coaches follows the Chinese men’s team’s devastating 3-1 defeat to Vietnam on Tuesday, which ended any hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.
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The team has made little impact on the world stage despite strong government support over the past decade or so.
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