Chinese soccer team promises to enter World Cup

In a repeat of the utter ridiculousness of the Chinese gymnastics team being made to promise to be injury- and drug-free, the latest news is that the Chinese soccer team has been offered a million dollars as a reward and made to recite the following vow:

“I pledge to advance to the World Cup, which is the professional goal that we strive for… We swear by death to kill along the bloody road of defending the honour of the motherland and realise our youthful dreams.”

Pretty chilling stuff. For the qualifying rounds, China has been placed in a "group of death" that includes Australia, Asian champions Iraq and Asian Games winner Qatar.