Former Chinese captain Li Weifeng has been a well-known figure in Asian football for a number of years. He is soon set to notch over 100 caps for his nation and, as the new Chinese Super League season gets into its stride, is hoping to lead Shanghai Shenhua to a first title since 2003 and China qualify to the 2010 World Cup. He found time to talk about China, Shanghai and his short stint with Everton. What happened in the recent World Cup qualifier against Australia? It was a really good chance to defeat Australia, half of their starting eleven didn’t come to China. Our target in the game was to get three points and we tried our best to win, but we were unlucky. It not the fault of one person, the whole team is responsible. Does China have to win the next game? Will China qualify? We should win and we will. If we end up with three draws from three games, it would mean that we have lost six points. If we win the next game, we will have a good chance qualifying. If we don’t win, it won’t be the end of the world. We will fight to the end. What were your thoughts on Australia? They are very strong physically and many of them play in Europe. Australia is a strong team. Can Shanghai win the title this season? Shanghai has always been one of the teams that challenges for the title. If we win the games that we should win, then we will have a good chance. How can Chinese football improve? More and more of our talented players should go to Europe. There they can improve their skills, gain some experience and get the most important thing of all --confidence. The China national team seems to be getting a reputation as a physical team. is this correct? No, I don't think so. You also have the same reputation... The physical condition is the basic element of playing football. Besides I think I also have good skill and, actually no one thinks that I'm a piece of wood in the defence line. What happened at Everton? Why did you only play one game? You know, it is often hard for a foreigner to communicate with the coach of the team and this is such an important aspect. I once studied football in Brazil, learning some Portuguese, but no English. At Everton, the coach and myself couldn’t communicate properly or exchange ideas. And then I picked up an injury which didn’t help matters. When I first went to the club, I said to myself: ‘If I can't get a starting position in three months, I will leave without any hesitation.’ Mr Moyes wanted me stay, but he all he could do was keep telling me to ‘wait.’ But you know it's hard for a coach to change his defence... Do you have happy memories of your time in England? Of course. Beside the result, I don't think my experience in UK was a waste of time. I still think the style I play is something that learning from England. I felt I grew up there, experiencing more and more. It's was a good experience! Copyright: John Duerden & Soccerphile.com Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

The 21-year-old, son of Manchester United legend Peter, made his debut for Sven-Goran Eriksson´s side this season, starting the campaign as the club´s first-choice keeper, but the emergence of Joe Hart pushed the Dane down the pecking order at Eastlands and he was forced to join Cardiff on loan in October and then Coventry

It was announced in Belgrade today by the Serbian Football Association that they have made a strong appeal to the fans not to fight after a football fan was killed in soccer – related violence earlier in the week.

Manchester United midfielder Anderson has declared next week´s Champions League semi-final with Barcelona as the most important game of his life

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has launched a court action against police for arresting him as part of a corruption inquiry

Chelsea will play in a four-team pre-season tournament in Russia this summer

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is to look at the future of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson at the end of the season

Cape Town have launched a competition to design the World Cup poster that will be used all over the Mother City and you've got a chance of designing it, if you're local that is. Durban had over 80 entries and the competition closed on Monday, but Cape Town has just begun and no doubt the other host cities will also soon be running competitions soon.

Ajax Amsterdam beat FC Groningen 2-1 on Wednesday, and made sure that the Dutch championship won't be decided until next Sunday.

Italy´s struggling Serie A side Torino on Wednesday sacked `Walter Novellino and replaced him with Gianni De Biasi, the latter resigning from his post with Spain´s Levante, Torino chairman Urbano Cairo said.

Ulli Stielike is eyeing a move to coach a club in the Spanish first division after being let go as manager of the Ivory Coast.

Bayern Munich, who went behind against Eintracht Frankfurt and struggled for periods, hit back mainly thanks to a double by Italian striker Luca Toni to notch up a 3-1 away victory and restore their 10-point advantage at the top of the German league on Wednesday.

Red cards could yet have an impact upon a title race reinvigorated by Celtic´s dramatic 2-1 Scottish Premier League victory over leaders and arch-rivals Rangers at Parkhead.

Serie A title rivals Inter Milan and AS Roma face tough away ties in their Italian Cup second leg matches after Inter were held 0-0 by Lazio and Roma beat Catania 1-0.

Former Portuguese international striker Pedro Pauleta saved ailing French football giants once again on Wednesday as he came off the bench to score the only goal in a 1-0 win and end lower league side Carquefou´s dreams of French Cup glory.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink´s sensational injury-time header handed Celtic a crucial 2-1 win at home to Rangers on Wednesday to keep them in the Scottish Premier League title race.

A controversial goal by France international David Trezeguet inspired Juventus to a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Parma on Wednesday and gave the winners an almost certain place in next season´s Champions League.

In an interview with Dutch newspaper Telegraaf, Valencia boss Ronald Koeman claimed to know nothing about a possible sacking by his team after Wednesday's Copa del Rey final.

Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim has insisted he would never have signed for the club had he known Jose Mourinho was about to be replaced as manager by Avram Grant.

While I was searching out info for this post, I stumbled on a 56-page document with all of the FIFA regulations for Olympic soccer. Because I know you were dying to know that: “Each association taking part in the final competition(s) shall ensure, as a condition of its participation, that every player, offi cial or [...]