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 led Iran to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. Returning Brazilian-born striker Ai Kesen, aka Elkeson, and his counterpart Fei Nanduo, an attacking midfielder also known as Fernando, are among the eye-catching new pieces added by Ivankovic — a sign that the Croatian will lean on China's naturalized firepower up front more than his predecessor did. Straight wins over Singapore, currently ranked 156th in the world, would boost China's hopes of bagging one of the two direct berths to the next stage of qualifying.

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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, …

China skipper makes retirement U-turn with World Cup hopes in balance
8 months, 4 weeks ago

China skipper makes retirement U-turn with World Cup hopes in balance

The Hindu  

China captain Zhang Linpeng is in line to play in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, days after quitting international football over the “disgrace” of a draw with Singapore. Known as China’s answer to Sergio Ramos because he also plays centre-back and has numerous tattoos, Zhang said he had enough after his team surrendered a 2-0 lead at Singapore …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

Victory against Thailand an encouraging sign for us, says China head coach Jankovic
1 year, 1 month ago

Victory against Thailand an encouraging sign for us, says China head coach Jankovic

China Daily  

Wei Shihao of China shoots during the Group C match between China and Thailand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 16, 2023. BANGKOK - The head coach of China's men's national football team Aleksandar Jankovic said the victory over Thailand in the 2026 World Cup qualifier is a good sign as his side snatched a …

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 …

Team China runs cold in World Cup warm-ups
1 year, 4 months ago

Team China runs cold in World Cup warm-ups

China Daily  

China's Li Kaier drives at the New Zealand defense during a warm-up match on Sunday in Hamburg, Germany. With just two weeks to go until the FIBA World Cup tips off, Team China's struggles in recent warm-up games have sounded alarm bells for their bid to earn Olympic qualification at the tournament. Sometimes you must play with courage, and that's …

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Mitrovic Double Hands Serbia 3-2 Win Over Ireland
3 years, 8 months ago

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Mitrovic Double Hands Serbia 3-2 Win Over Ireland

News 18  

Serbia got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a positive start as substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a second-half brace to give them a comeback 3-2 home win over Ireland in their opening Group A clash on Wednesday. Tadic pulled all the strings for Serbia in midfield but the hosts created little up front against a packed Irish defence …

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