Shanghai, May 10 (IANS): Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has said he is backing China to win the football World Cup within the coming 15-20 years.
Eriksson, head coach of leading Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG, expressed his support to China on Monday, indicating that he believes everything is now in place for this country to succeed, according to the BBC, reports Efe.
"The president of the country is pushing for football. And if the government push for something in China things will happen," Eriksson explained.
Eriksson noted that winning the tournament is "a realistic target" for China.
"Why not? Not the next World Cup. It will take 15, 20 years at least," he added.
The Chinese government set out plans last April to become a world football "superpower" by 2050, while Chinese clubs have begun to attract great footballers to play in the Chinese Super League.