China will be without captain Zheng Zhi for World Cup qualifiers against Myanmar after his English club Charlton Athletic refused to release him for the match.

China's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup have been dealt a blow after Charlton Athletic refused to release captain Zheng Zhi (seen here in July 2007) to play in their upcoming qualifying double-header. [Agencies]

Charlton manager Alan Pardew said: "I apologise to the Chinese federation that they will be without ZiZi for these qualifiers.

"I know ZiZi is an important player for his country, but he is also important for us, and I am sure China will be able to get the results they need from the two games without him."

China face Myanmar in Foshan on October 21 with the return leg in Yangon on October 28.

China's players were made to attend a military-style boot camp to prepare for this month's opening matches of their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign.

Fifty-six players from the senior and Olympic teams were given training with soldiers in march pasts, salutes and military discipline, the Asian Football Confederation said.

China, who had a disappointing Asian Cup this year, are pinning their hopes on reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

They reached the World Cup for the first time in 2002 but finished bottom of their group after losing all three matches.