World Cup debutants China will have to face giants Brazil without their two most experienced players and best defenders - Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jiha.
Fan hurt his left foot in a warm-up match against Portugal in Macau two weeks ago and aggravated the injury in the defeat by Costa Rica.
Sun damaged his ankle when he was scythed down by Costa Rica defender Luis Marin.
An X-ray showed no bone damage but his ankle was badly sprained.
China coach Bora Milutinovic has refused to reveal who will replace Fan and Sun, but defender Zhang Enhua and midfielder Qi Hong are favourites.
Gremio defender Anderson Polga will replace Edmilson for Brazil.
Gilberto Silva will again fill in for injured captain Emerson, who was forced home after dislocating his shoulder in a freak training-ground accident.
Ricardinho, who was called up to replace Emerson, arrived from Brazil on Wednesday and will be on the bench.
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MATCH PREVIEW STATISTICS
No previous meetings
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MATCH SHORTS
Four players will be suspended if they receive another yellow card - Brazil's Denilson and China's Xu Yunlong, Li Xiaopeng and Li Tie are the players in question.
Brazil's squad is either hugely experienced at this level, or are making their World Cup debut here. Cafu has played ten World Cup matches while Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Denilson and Roberto Carlos have all played in eight World Cup matches. Everyone else is playing in their first World Cup.
Brazilian defender Cafu will be 32 on 7 June, the day before Brazil plays this match.
China have lost their last three matches and their only win in 2002 was against Thailand.
Brazil have won six of their seven matches in 2002. Their other game was a 1-1 draw with Portugal.
China have only scored in one of their last six matches. That was the 3-1 victory over Thailand where striker Su Maozhen scored a hat-trick.
Bora Milutinovic, the coach of China, has never failed to take a team to the second phase of the World Cup. He has trained teams at four previous World Cups but looks like failing this time.
Brazil have conceded at least a goal in their last six World Cup matches.
Brazil have scored at least a goal in their last thirteen matches (including friendlies) and are unbeaten since losing to Bolivia in qualification - a total of eight games.
Fan hurt his left foot in a warm-up match against Portugal in Macau two weeks ago and aggravated the injury in the defeat by Costa Rica.
Sun damaged his ankle when he was scythed down by Costa Rica defender Luis Marin.
An X-ray showed no bone damage but his ankle was badly sprained.
China coach Bora Milutinovic has refused to reveal who will replace Fan and Sun, but defender Zhang Enhua and midfielder Qi Hong are favourites.
Gremio defender Anderson Polga will replace Edmilson for Brazil.
Gilberto Silva will again fill in for injured captain Emerson, who was forced home after dislocating his shoulder in a freak training-ground accident.
Ricardinho, who was called up to replace Emerson, arrived from Brazil on Wednesday and will be on the bench.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATCH PREVIEW STATISTICS
No previous meetings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATCH SHORTS
Four players will be suspended if they receive another yellow card - Brazil's Denilson and China's Xu Yunlong, Li Xiaopeng and Li Tie are the players in question.
Brazil's squad is either hugely experienced at this level, or are making their World Cup debut here. Cafu has played ten World Cup matches while Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Denilson and Roberto Carlos have all played in eight World Cup matches. Everyone else is playing in their first World Cup.
Brazilian defender Cafu will be 32 on 7 June, the day before Brazil plays this match.
China have lost their last three matches and their only win in 2002 was against Thailand.
Brazil have won six of their seven matches in 2002. Their other game was a 1-1 draw with Portugal.
China have only scored in one of their last six matches. That was the 3-1 victory over Thailand where striker Su Maozhen scored a hat-trick.
Bora Milutinovic, the coach of China, has never failed to take a team to the second phase of the World Cup. He has trained teams at four previous World Cups but looks like failing this time.
Brazil have conceded at least a goal in their last six World Cup matches.
Brazil have scored at least a goal in their last thirteen matches (including friendlies) and are unbeaten since losing to Bolivia in qualification - a total of eight games.
