Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack
9 months ago

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack

China Daily  

Team China head coach Branko Ivankovic oversees training in consultation with a member of his staff. With a new coach at the helm and a new attacking style to be tested, the Chinese men's soccer team is embracing upcoming World Cup qualifiers as a clean slate to restore faith in the struggling program. Desperate to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002, the men's national program has pinned high hopes on new coach Branko Ivankovic to help rebuild the squad into continental contention and lead it out of the shadow of perpetual underachievement on the pitch and recent corruption scandals off it. We'd like to win back fans' support with two excellent games," Ivankovic told China Central Television through an interpreter last week in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The former Iran and Oman coach admits that trying to add attacking flair, creativity and aggression to the squad will take time, largely due to the lack of quality competition and poor technical standards in the Chinese Super League, where he guided Shandong Taishan to a league title in 2010 during a 16-month stint with the club.

World Cup  win  team  attack  ivankovic  world  coach  squad  plan  cup  china  tested  trying  optimistic

History of this topic

Goal in sight, despite brave defeat
1 month ago

Goal in sight, despite brave defeat

China Daily  

Lin Liangming scores for China during its World Cup Asian qualifying third-round Group C match against Japan at the Xiamen Egret Stadium, Xiamen, Fujian province, on Tuesday. XINHUA Its qualifying prospects remain bleak and its winless run against Japan continues, yet Team China enjoyed a big morale-booster by making the mighty Samurai Blue bleed in a hard-fought Asian qualifier loss. …

China head to head against Thailand in World Cup qualifier
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China head to head against Thailand in World Cup qualifier

China Daily  

China plays Thailand on June 6 in a crucial World Cup Asian qualifier, with the winner most likely to progress to the next round. With so much at stake for both teams' qualifying prospects, Team China and its Group C opponent Thailand are both going for three points from their encounter in a 2026 World Cup Asian Zone qualifier on …

It's do or Thai for threadbare Team China
6 months, 3 weeks ago

It's do or Thai for threadbare Team China

China Daily  

China's Ai Kesen and teammates share a light moment during a training session at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center. With key starters suspended and several attackers still nursing injuries, the Chinese men's national team, coached by Croatian manager Branko Ivankovic, is apparently not at full strength, with just a week to go before it's due to host Thailand in Shenyang, …

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack
9 months ago

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack

China Daily  

Team China head coach Branko Ivankovic oversees training in consultation with a member of his staff. With a new coach at the helm and a new attacking style to be tested, the Chinese men's soccer team is embracing upcoming World Cup qualifiers as a clean slate to restore faith in the struggling program. Desperate to qualify for the FIFA World …

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack
9 months ago

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack

China Daily  

Team China head coach Branko Ivankovic oversees training in consultation with a member of his staff. With a new coach at the helm and a new attacking style to be tested, the Chinese men's soccer team is embracing upcoming World Cup qualifiers as a clean slate to restore faith in the struggling program. Desperate to qualify for the FIFA World …

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack
9 months ago

Ivankovic optimistic about plan of attack

China Daily  

Team China players stretch it out during a training session in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in preparation for Thursday's World Cup qualifier away to Singapore. CHINA DAILY "Since my first meeting with the players, I've made it clear that we need to play the modern game — that is attacking aggressively even if that comes with risks," said Ivankovic, who successfully …

Team China to throw off the shackles
9 months, 1 week ago

Team China to throw off the shackles

China Daily  

Branko Ivankovic has vowed Team China will go on the attack as the Croatian coach kicked off his tenure in charge of the struggling squad in bullish mood. After years of disappointments, expectations are at an all-time low that Team China can reach its first World Cup finals since a sole appearance at the 2002 edition. The former Iran and …

Ambitious Ivankovic aims for World Cup finals
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Ambitious Ivankovic aims for World Cup finals

China Daily  

Newly appointed head coach for Team China Branko Ivankovic is aiming at steering Team China to the soccer World Cup finals, and the 70-year-old Croatian hopes the squad can regain confidence to fulfill the goal. "Our first goal is to get into the next round of qualification, but our ultimate goal is to build a new national team that is …

Pressure on Ivankovic to lift the gloom
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Pressure on Ivankovic to lift the gloom

China Daily  

Croatian Branko Ivankovic will try and hit the ground running as the newly appointed head coach of the Chinese men's team arrived in Beijing on Monday with just over two weeks to prepare for the squad's latest FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The dismal performances resulted in the firing of the squad's Serbian head coach Aleksandar Jankovic, with striker Wu Lei …

Croatian Ivankovic appointed coach of Chinese men’s football team
10 months ago

Croatian Ivankovic appointed coach of Chinese men’s football team

The Hindu  

Croatian Branko Ivankovic has been appointed head coach of the Chinese men’s national football team, the Chinese Football Association announced on Saturday. Ivankovic replaces Serbian Aleksandar Jankovic, who was tapped to lead the Chinese squad in February last year but had a disappointing run at the Asian Cup. The Chinese government has great ambitions for the national team, but it …

China head coach Jankovic vows to move forward after loss to S. Korea
1 year, 1 month ago

China head coach Jankovic vows to move forward after loss to S. Korea

China Daily  

China's Wu Lei vies for the ball during the second stage match against South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament in Shenzhen of South China's Guangdong province November 21, 2023. SHENZHEN, China - China head coach Aleksandar Jankovic vowed to keep his team moving forward after the 3-0 home loss to South Korea in the …

Same ambition, renewed resolve
1 year, 1 month ago

Same ambition, renewed resolve

China Daily  

Team China head coach Aleksandar Jankovic oversees a Team China training session in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, last week. WU ZHIZHAO/FOR CHINA DAILY Team China head coach vows players won't lack fighting spirit as latest World Cup qualification campaign kicks off Twenty-one years since Team China's sole appearance at the World Cup, the national squad kicks off its latest round of …

Crunch time for Team China
1 year, 4 months ago

Crunch time for Team China

China Daily  

Rebuilding national squad faces monumental challenge as battle for Olympic berth begins at FIBA World Cup Li Kaier is seen in the photo. Zhou Qi, Zhao Jiwei, Li Kaier, Cui Yongxi, Zhang Zhenlin are expected to form Team China's starting lineup at the upcoming FIBA World Cup. With its final, and perhaps most important, piece in naturalized player Kyle Anderson …

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