Singapore's soccer head coach Raddy Avramovic (L) attends a news conference before the team's 2014 World Cup Asian qualifier against China in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Sept 1, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUNMING, Yunnan Province - Jose Antonio Camacho is looking to a winning start to his charge of Chinese national soccer team when they play Singapore in the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifier on Friday.

China is grouped with Iraq, Jordan and Singapore in Group A in the third round of Asian qualifier, with top two teams from each of the five groups advancing to the next stage.

As Singapore is considered the weakest team in Group A, China could not afford a result other than three points when they meet Friday night.

Camacho, who was appointed head coach of the Chinese team on August14, had only 11 days for his first training camp before the game, but the former Spanish national coach has brought some postivie changes to the Chinese side.

Camacho stressed on defence at setpieces, and ordered his players to pressure their opponents more. But the 56-year-old Spaniard is likely to keep most of the starting eleven under predecssor Gao Hongbo's reign.

China's captain Li Weifeng attends a pre-game press conference with China's new coach Camacho (not pictured) before the team's 2014 World Cup Asian qualifier against Singapore in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Sept 1, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Singapore has been training in Kunming for a week, and their attack-minded boss Raddy Avramovic is hoping to challenge China as they have several speedy players and a disciplined defence.

In their last meeting in 2009, China was held 1-1 by Singapore in regular time in a friendly, and beat them only after penalty shoot-out.

China had only one World Cup experience: Bora Miludinovic guided them to the 2002 South Korea/Japan edition.