By AFPMore by this AuthorHONG KONGWar-torn Syria as well as China, the ultimate sleeping giants, are both aiming to pull off a near-miracle as Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup heads into a final showdown on Tuesday. Group A is particularly unpredictable as South Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan and Marcello Lippi's China remain in the running for either the second automatic berth, or a place in the play-offs by finishing third. Chinese success would be just as eye-catching if they manage to rise from fifth in the group to snatch a play-off spot and stay in the hunt for just their second World Cup appearance. China were largely written off after defeats to South Korea, Syria and Uzbekistan, but they are reborn since Lippi's arrival last October, winning twice to keep their hopes just about alive. Either we beat South Korea or we should end football in our country," said Uzbek captain Odil Ahmedov, according to the Fifa website.

Source: Daily Nation September 04, 2017 09:22 UTC